PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ZnO NANOPARTICLES BY SOLVENT FREE METHOD

Abstract

ZnO nanoparticles have numerous applications as photo catalysts, gas sensors, UV lasers, as optoelectronic and microelectronic devices or in cosmetic field. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by solvent free method using zinc nitrate hexahydrate as precursor and glycerol as dispersant, without solvent present. This method proved to be very simple, economic and ecofriendly. Zinc nitrate and glycerol were mixed in different ratio in order to avoid and overcome a possibility of agglomeration. Characterization of samples was performed by UV/VIS and FTIR spectrophotometry. The strongest absorption appeared at wavelength 206 nm. Using combination of UV/VIS spectrophotometry and hyperbolic band model (HBM) particles size of ZnO particles were evaluated to 2.06 nm. Additionally, using Tauc plot, a band gap energy was determined. Band gap energy of ZnO nanoparticles amounted to 5.00 eV. IR spectrum showed existence of ZnO in interval 600- 400 cm-1.