Probing the surface states in nano ZnO powder synthesized by sonication method: Photo and thermo-luminescence studies

Zinc oxide, a transparent conducting oxide, has been synthesized in a novel route by application of continuous and pulsed mode ultrasonication. The powders prepared in this method are found to be nano particles of 24 and 20 nm respectively. The behaviour of two powders is found to be different when X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, and Fourier transform infrared spectra were recorded. The thermo luminescence behaviour was also found to be different. It has been possible to incorporate H ion into the system by sonication process. Surface states created by sonication process are found to influence the photo and thermo luminescence of the system. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.