Figure 6

Nucleation and growth mechanism of Pb(core)/ZnO(shell)-NWs obtained from the zinc ferrite slag contaminated with Pb through a decomposition reaction assisted by microwave radiation. The reduction products are Fe (s), Fe₂O₃ (s), and CO₂ (g). In the early stages of the reaction, the vapor is rich in Pb and has a ZnO lesser proportion. Some ZnO and Zn species react with the [100] Pb surface thereby facilitating its growth in the [111] direction.