The modification of structural and optical properties of nano- and submicron ZnO powders by variation of solvothermal syntheses conditions

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology 2014-10, Vol.16 (10), p.1, Article 2670
• Main Authors: Luković Golić, D., Ćirković, J., Šćepanović, M., Srećković, T., Longo, E., Varela, J. A., Daneu, N., Stamenković, V., Branković, G., Branković, Z.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electron and ion emission by liquids and solids; impact phenomena; Exact sciences and technology; Field emission, ionization, evaporation, and desorption; Fullerenes and related materials; Growth from solutions; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Materials Science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; 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; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Research Paper; Spectroscopy; Visible and ultraviolet spectra; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-014-2670-1

Nano- (30–60 nm) and submicron (100–350 nm) ZnO particles were synthesized using solvothermal method at 200 °C from an ethanolic solution of zinc acetate dihydrate, applying different reaction conditions, i.e., pH value of precursor and time of the reaction. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis diffuse reflectance (DR), Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy have been employed for characterization of synthesized ZnO powders. It was shown that the structural, morphological, and optical properties are largely determined by reaction conditions during solvothermal synthesis. The particle crystallinity improves with the decrease of pH value and/or the increase of time of the reaction. The Raman and PL spectra analyses indicate that the oxygen interstitials are dominant intrinsic defects in solvothermally synthesized ZnO powders. It was observed that concentration of defects in wurtzite ZnO crystal lattices slightly changes with the variation of pH value of the precursor and time of the solvothermal reaction. The correlation between structural ordering and defect structure of particles and corresponding growth processes was discussed.