In this work, arrays of submicron ZnO structures were successfully synthesized using a one-step aqueous precipitation method. Snowflake-like and flower-like morphologies were obtained by changing the reaction temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated that the ZnO arrays have a wurtzite crystal structure. A possible growth mechanism based on the analysis done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HIRTEM), and high-angle annular dark field (HAADF) is proposed. Our findings suggest that the growth mechanism of the ZnO arrays is by self-aggregation, and that such an oriented aggregation is enhanced by increasing the reaction temperature. The results also revealed that the aggregation process introduces several structural defects such as differences in mass distribution and crystalline structure. In order to study the surface chemical composition the samples were also characterized by XPS. The results showed the presence of Zn(OH)(2) and absorbed carbon species on the ZnO surface. In addition, the photoluminescence characterization showed that on UV excitation (lambda = 360 nm) all samples present the characteristic UV emission centered at 390 nm, and for the sample synthesized at 60 degrees C, a visible emission was also observed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.