Abstract
AbstractZnO is a promising member of the semiconducting materials of II-VI group. ZnO nanocrystals have shown potential applications in various novel technologies. In the present investigation of ZnO nanocrystals, a novel chemical route using Zinc acetate as organic precursor is being reported. ZnO nanocrystals were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy UV-visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence measurements. The X-ray diffraction studies reveal the typical hexagonal structure of ZnO nanocrystals along the preferred orientation of (101) and (100) planes. The optical bandgap of ZnO nanocrystals was found to be 3.50 eV from the absorbance spectrum, which is higher than that of the bulk ZnO material. A blueshift of 21 nm is observed in the excitonic transitions, which clearly indicates the formation of ZnO nanocrystals. Photoluminescence spectroscopy of the ZnO nanocrystals showed a strong emission peak at 365 nm near the band edge along with a weak green-yellow emission peak spanning the range of 450 to 600 nm. The blueshifting was also observed in the photoluminescence spectrum, in accordance with the UV–vis spectroscopy in contrast to the bulk ZnO material.
Highlights
Robust ZnO is one of the extensively investigated semiconducting materials of the II-VI group due to its being a promising candidate for technological applications with a wide bandgap of 3.30 eV and large exciton binding energy of about 60 meV [1]
ZnO nanocrystals were synthesized by the novel chemical route
The X-ray diffraction studies indicated the development of hexagonal structure of the chemically synthesized ZnO nanocrystals
Summary
Robust ZnO is one of the extensively investigated semiconducting materials of the II-VI group due to its being a promising candidate for technological applications with a wide bandgap of 3.30 eV and large exciton binding energy of about 60 meV [1]. ZnO is the only semiconductor material extensively investigated after Si/Ge. Robust ZnO has important applications in the field of biosensors, solar cell window, surface acoustic devices, gas sensor, and piezo actuator devices [2,3]. Semiconductor nanoparticles have attracted much attention due to their excellent properties like optical, structural, and magnetic. A ZnO nanocluster like nanoparticles, nanobelts, nanorods, nanoflowers, nanowires, nanotubes as well as colloid and bulk nanoparticles have shown excellent luminescence properties [4]. ZnO nanoparticles are important for basic research but are promising for industrial applications at large. Due to the reduction of the grain size, the surface-to-volume ratio increases, and optical properties of the fine powders are critically examined
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