Journal of Nanosciences: Current Research

Sol-gel Synthesis and Meticulous Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

Saurabh Sarkar and Ratna Sarkar

This work presents and discusses the study of ZnO (zinc oxide) as nanoparticles and its idiosyncratic characteristics. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized employing a simple sol- gel method, with zinc chloride, zinc nitrate and sodium hydroxide as starting materials at room temperature. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and UV-Visible spectroscopy. SEM and TEM images reveal hexagonal morphology of ZnO obtained, with average crystalline size. This was determined from the full width at half maximum of XRD peaks by using Debye-Scherrer’s Formula. Moreover, interpretation through UV-Visible absorption spectra supported a high absorption confirming its transcendent electrical and optoelectronic properties. It was further mathematically showed that ZnO nanoparticles can be efficiently utilized as additives in base lubricants to diminish abrasion and wear, enhancing tribological properties.