Abstract
Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using sonochemical and microwave techniques. The nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet photoluminescence (PL). The SEM micrographs indicated that the particles were spherical in shape with a diameter of /spl sim/160 nm. However, the TEM micrographs revealed the presence of nanoplatelets and rods with a particle-size of /spl sim/2 nm x/spl sim/80 nm. The observed X-ray diffraction pattern was identical to the standard diffraction pattern of ZnO. Ultraviolet photoluminescence (PL) studies of the samples showed a strong PL intensity and a significant blue shift relative to the PL of the bulk. Shifts up to 70 meV were observed and attributed to a quantum confinement effect. Electrical measurements indicated a highly resistive nature of the nanoparticulate material.