Preparation of zinc oxide nanoparticles coated with homogeneous Al2O3 layer

Zinc oxide nanoparticles coated with Al2O3 were prepared by calcining basic carbonate of zinc (BCZ) powders coated with Al(OH)(3) precipitation at 400-600 degrees C. Al(OH)(3) was coated on the surface of BCZ powders which are precursor for ZnO, in stead of calcined ZnO particles. The size and shape of BCZ powders are different after coating with Al2O3, as a result, ZnO particles with about 50-80 nm were prepared by calcining coated BCZ at 600 degrees C. There is a homogeneous coating with about 5 nm on the surface of as-calcined ZnO nanoparticles. TEM, XPS and zeta potentials were used to characterize the coated ZnO nanoparticles. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.