OICC Press International Nano Letters 2228-5326 5 1 (March 2015) 2014 11 01 A benign hydrothermal synthesis of nanopencils-like zinc oxide nanoflowers 10.1007/s40089-014-0130-7 EN S. A. Akhoon National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, IN S. Rubab National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, IN M. A. Shah National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, IN Journal Article 2014 11 01 Abstract Synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflowers and nanopencils is normally carried out with the help of structure-directing chemicals and templates. Besides releasing environmentally toxic substances, the use of these chemicals restricts the practical applications of nanostructures. In this paper, we report a typical template-free and environmentally benign synthesis of ZnO nanoflowers with nanopencils-like petals through a facile hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized ZnO nanoflowers were characterized using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, tunneling electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. The results reveal high quality and impurity-free hexagonal wurtzite phase ZnO nanoflowers of nanopencils-like petals having a length of 100–150 nm and a diameter of 45–60 nm.