LAUSR

Abstract Highly crystalline zinc silicate (Zn2SiO4) nanorods have been synthesized by a cost-effective low-temperature hydrothermal route. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the crystalline willemite Zn2SiO4 phase of nanorods. The average diameter and length of nanorods were found to be 50 nm and 1–2.5 μm, respectively in electron microscopy studies. An absorption band in the range of 200–300 nm and a significant reduction in the optical band (5.05 eV) gap was observed in UV–Vis studies. Zn2SiO4 nanorods exhibited a very high dielectric constant of about 270 which is almost ten fold higher than that of bulk Zn2SiO4. Observation of high dielectric constant and band gap reduction makes Zn2SiO4 nanorods suitable for optoelectronics, phosphors and various nano-electronics devices applications.