Synthesis of ZnTe Nanoparticles by Microwave Irradiation Technique, and Their Characterization

The solid state syntheses of cubic Zinc Telluride nanoparticles were successesfully achieved for the first time by microwave irradiation technique within similar to 25 min as per the author's knowledge. The crystalline phase was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. The crystallite size was calculated and found to be similar to 40 nm. Scanning electron microscope was also used to determine the size and shape of the nanoparticles, and the average particle size was found to be similar to 60 nm with spherical shapes. The particle size distribution was in range of similar to 50 to 70 nm. One transverse optic (TO) and two longitudinal optic (1LO and 2LO) phonon modes were observed at 167 and 205, 408 cm(-1) in the FT-Raman spectrum. The optical band gap was calculated which has found to be 2.51 eV higher than the bulk ZnTe (E-g = 2.26 eV), it reveals a clear blue shift with an energy difference 0.25 eV, this may be due to the crystallite size, exciton or charge carrier confinement.