Formation and characterization of ZnO nanopowder synthesized by sol–gel method

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 496; no. 1; pp. 399 - 402
• Main Authors: Azam, Ameer, Ahmed, Faheem, Arshi, Nishat, Chaman, M., Naqvi, A.H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 30-04-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Atomic force microscopy (AFM); Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electrodes; Exact sciences and technology; Heating; Materials science; Nanocomposites; Nanocrystals and nanoparticles; Nanomaterials; Nanopowders; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals; Nanostructure; Optical properties; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of low-dimensional, mesoscopic, and nanoscale materials and structures; Oxide materials; Physics; Scanning electron microscopy (SEM); Sol gel process; Sol–gel processes; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction; Zinc oxide; X-ray diffraction; Atomic force microscopy (AFM); Sol–gel processes; Scanning electron microscopy (SEM); Oxide materials; Optical properties; Scanning electron microscopy; Particle size; Thermogravimetry; Differential thermal analysis; XRD; Spectral line shift; Heat treatments; Energy gap; Transmission electron microscopy; Sol-gel processes; Zinc oxide; Ultraviolet visible spectrum; Nanopowder; Sol-gel process
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2010.02.028

ZnO nanopowder formation through sol–gel route is reported here. Sol was prepared from zinc acetate dihydrate precursor and ethylene glycol as solvent. The resulting solution was highly water sensitive and converted to gel on addition of a few drops of water, final heating in two steps gave ZnO nanopowder. The properties of the synthesized nanopowder were studied using AFM, SEM, TEM, XRD, UV–VIS spectrophotometer, FT-IR, and TGA/DTA. The average size of the nanoparticles was determined by TEM as well as XRD data and found to be ∼19
nm. The UV–VIS spectrum of the synthesized nanopowders indicates a band gap of about 3.44
eV showing a weak blue shift compared to 3.37
eV for the bulk ZnO. Due to their good optical and electrical properties, nanophase ZnO is promising candidate for use as transparent electrodes in solar cells.