Gas phase synthesis of zinc oxide nanocrystals and their surface modification using small and large acidic ligands

Abstract

AbstractZinc oxide nanocrystals are synthesized using the chemical vapor synthesis (CVS) technique. Diethylzinc is used as zinc precursor. Synthesized zinc oxide nanocrystals are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption and desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic laser scattering. As-synthesized zinc oxide has a primary particle size of about 10 nm and an isoelectric point at pH 9.5. The surface of zinc oxide nanocrystals can be modified using short chain organic acids like formic acid and glycine as well as using low molecular weight polyacrylic acid (PAA). The isoelectric point shifts towards acidic pH when glycine is used as surface modifier whereas it shifts towards basic pH with formic acid. The use of PAA eliminates the isoelectric point with very high value of zeta potential over the range of pH studied in these experiments.