Effect of Calcination on properties of ZnO nanoparticles

ZnO nanoparticles have gained much interest in optoelectronics due to their unique and novel properties. Zinc acetate is used as precursor. Sol-gel method is used to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles. Calcination at three different temperatures (100-500 degrees C) is carried out in order to study the effect of calcination on their structural and optical properties. Structural and optical properties are studied by using X-ray diffractometer and Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometer. XRD results indicate the formation of pure phase hexagonal wurtzite ZnO. Crystallite size decreases (24-17nm) with increase in calcination temperature to 300 degrees C. With further increase in calcination temperature, crystallite size increases to 19.5nm. High transmission values are observed by increasing the calcination temperature. Band gap values increase with the increase in calcination temperature. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.