Effect of temperature gradient on zinc oxide nano particles synthesized at low reaction temperatures

Zinc oxide samples were synthesized at different reaction temperatures (70 degrees C-110 degrees C) by surfactant-free co-precipitation method using temperature gradient. Formation of hexagonal wurtzite structure of the ZnO samples is confirmed from x-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. This study further suggests reduction in crystallite size from 33 nm to 24 nm with increase in reaction temperature which is reconfirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Optical spectroscopy studies of these samples show significant peak shift towards higher energy with maximum photoluminescence (PL) emissions between 390 nm to 575 nm region of the visible spectrum. This evident inverse relationship between optical properties of ZnO nano particles and reaction temperature may be attributed to the temperature gradient causing rapid nucleation during the synthesis process. With these notable properties this study suggests that, ZnO nano particles may be useful for making Nano electronic devices, Sensors, Nano medicines, GATE Dielectrics, Photovoltaic devices etc.