ZINC OXIDE CRYSTAL AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME

摘要

A novel zinc oxide crystal has an octahedral nucleus whose faces are alternately zinc faces and oxide faces, and this crystal has such a geometric shape that a needle is grown on each of the faces. The needle grown on the oxide face is branched into three sections which are disposed in parallel relation, and the needle on the oxide face is shorter than the needle on the zinc face. This novel crystal having oxide films can be produced in a homogeneous manner by mixing zinc-tin alloy powder or tin powder with zinc powder, having an oxide film formed on each particle thereof, to form a powder mixture and then by heating the powder mixture at 820.degree.C to 1100.degree.C in an oxidizing atmosphere to oxide the same. The tin concentration in the power mixture is less than 40 wt.%.