Synthesis and characterization of nano-sized ε-Zn(OH)2 and its decomposed product, nano-zinc oxide

epsilon-Zn(OH)(2), a wulfingite-type material by using wet chemical method was synthesized. D-Gluconate was used in different percentages as size decreasing agent during the synthesis of epsilon-Zn(OH)(2). Powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and thermogravimetry analyses confirmed the formation of production. Also, powder X-ray diffraction analysis showed the decrease of the crystallite size of epsilon-Zn(OH)(2) particles by increasing in D-gluconate concentration. When epsilon-Zn(OH)(2) was heat-treated at 300 degrees C, nanozinc oxide was obtained with smaller mean crystallite sizes when compared with the parent material, epsilon-Zn(OH)(2). (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.