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In this study, ZnO nanobelts were successfully fabricated by flash synthesis without any expensive catalyst at a relatively low temperature (600${}^{\circ }$C). The whole process took just $\sim$30 min. Introducing a solution tank containing a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Zn(AC)₂, was an auxiliary process to elevate the quality of the products. The morphology of the ZnO nanobelts was systematically investigated by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FRSEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The products had an average width of 200nm and a length of more than 10$\mu \mathrm{\text{m}}$. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the ZnO nanobelts had a typical wurtzite structure. Finally, the growth mechanism of the unique morphology of the ZnO nanobelts is discussed. An assembly-line production method is also proposed based on the results.

We have developed a simple and economic technique for synthesis of one-dimensional nanobelt structures of semiconductive oxides such as ZnO, SnO₂, In₂O₃, CdO, Ga₂O₃ and PbO₂. The as-synthesized oxide nanobelts are pure, structurally uniform, single crystalline and most of them free from dislocations; they have a rectangular-like cross-section with typical widths of 30–300 nanometers, width-to-thickness ratios of 5–10 and lengths of up to a few millimeters. The belt-like morphology appears to be a unique and common structural characteristic for the family of semiconducting oxides with cations of different valence states and materials of distinct crystallographic structures. The nanobelts are structurally and morphologically controlled and they are intrinsic semiconductors, providing a new system after carbon nanotubes for a systematic understanding on dimensionally confined transport phenomena in functional oxides. They are also ideal building blocks for fabrication of nanoscale devices based on the integrity of individual nanobelts.

Zinc oxide nanobelts, grown by a solid–vapor phase thermal sublimation process, are stimulating extensive interest because of their semiconducting and piezoelectric properties, diverse functionalities and chemical stability. For nanomanipulation and nanomeasurement of an individual ZnO nanobelts, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique is a unique approach. In this paper, mechanical resonance of a single ZnO nanobelt, induced by an alternative electric field, was studied by in situ TEM. Due to the rectangular cross-section of the nanobelt, two fundamental resonance modes have been observed in corresponding to two orthogonal transverse vibration directions, showing the versatile applications of nanobelts as nanocantilevers and nanoresonators. The bending modulus of the ZnO nanobelts was measured to be ~ 52 GPa and the damping time constant of the resonance in vacuum of 10–8 Torr was ~ 1.2 ms. The ZnO nanobelts are promising in potential applications as nanocantilevers, nanoresonators and nanoactuators.