The formation of zinc oxide particles of different hierarchical morphologies was investigated. By performing elemental analysis on samples extracted from the supernatant solution during precipitationsPrecipitation yielding two distinctly different morphologies, the consumption of zinc ions was used to follow the liquid-to-solid phase formation. While a rapid Zn-ion consumption was synonymous with the formation of predominantly oxygen terminated flower-shaped ZnO-particles, with half of the zinc ions being precipitated during the first minute, less than 10% of the zinc ions were converted to sea urchin-shaped ZnO-particles (with mixed terminations) after 1 min of the reaction. The unique ZnO-particle morphologies may therefore be related to the precipitationPrecipitation rates, which can be further explored as a tool for understanding how ZnO-particles with differently facetted surfaces form. Interestingly, the different formation rates remained with identical patterns when 0.5 g/L celluloseCellulose (0.005 wt%) was added to the reactions as nucleating agent for improved yields. The controlled formation of specific functional ZnO-particle surfaces is an important method for recyclingRecycling inexpensive zinc waste from batteries to high value materials useful in a variety of catalytic applications.