Narrow Results

Wurtzite ZnO nanomaterials including nanoparticles, nanocolumns and nanorods were successfully synthesized by a solution route. Concentrations of modifying reagent and differences of solvent employed in the synthetic process can effectively adjust the morphologies of the as-grown products. Photoluminescence measurements of the ZnO nanocolumns and nanorods have been carried out at room temperature. A sharp Ultraviolet emission at 386 nm and a weak visible emission centered at 515 nm were observed in the PL spectrum of the nanocolumns, while a UV emission of the nanorods was observed at 377 nm.

In this paper, structural, optical and electronic properties of ZnO nanoparticles were investigated with the variation in the annealing temperature. X-ray diffraction, High-Resolution Transmission Electron Spectroscopy, Absorption spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and Soft X-ray spectroscopy techniques were invoked to investigate and gauge the effect of annealing temperature on these properties. Intact Hexagonal Wurtzite phase of the nanoparticles with increasing crystallinity and spherical shape with particle size between 20nm and 23nm [using both X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) and High-resolution Transmission of electron microscopy (HRTEM)], blue shift of absorption peak from 372nm to 366nm and Optical Band Gap from 3.24eV to 3.17eV (UV-Vis-NIR), narrowing of $E_{2H}$ mode in Raman Spectra; all indicated enhanced crystallinity with increased annealing temperature. Effects produced by the sole variable such as annealing temperature on the indicative parameters in a definite order catapult the annealing conditions as a significant candidate for customized properties. To have a deeper insight at the electronic levels, Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopic studies of ZnO nanoparticles were undertaken. The analysis of Soft XAS spectra showed the change in number of O 2$p$ and Zn 4$p$ unoccupied states with increasing particle size and crystallinity of ZnO nanoparticles for varying annealing temperature.