Morphology and Structure of ZnO Nanoparticles Produced by Electrochemical Method

Abstract

This article presents studies of the morphology and structure of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by the electrochemical method. Colloidal solutions of the nanoparticles are obtained by an anodic dissolution of metallic zinc in alcohol solutions of lithium chloride containing a small amount of water (5%vol.). The parameters chosen for the synthesis are based on Zn polarization curves(obtained using the the potentiokinetic (Linear Sweep Voltammetry - LSV) and the chronoamperometric method. The synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles is carried out in 0.05m LiCl + 5% H 2 O alcohol (methanol or propanol) solutions during galvanostatic polarization of Zn at 3 mA/cm 2 current density. The process is performed in a two-electrode system, where both electrodes (the working anode and cathode) are made of zinc. Optical properties, morphology and structure of the colloidal solutions and powders (obtained after evaporating the solvent) were studied using the following spectroscopic and microscopic techniques: UltraViolet and Visible Spectroscopy (UV-VIS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).