Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles of variable optical band gap via precursor method

ZnO nanoparticles of uniform size have been synthesized at 200 degrees C and 300 degrees C by using [Zn(INA)(2)(H2O)(4)], where NA is the isonicotinate anion, as a metal-organic precursor. The synthesized oxide materials have been investigated by various physical techniques such as powder XRD, TEM, FE-SEM and UV-vis spectroscopy. The spherical particles obtained at 300 degrees C are somewhat larger in size. The optical band gap of ZnO shrinks from 2.54 to 2.40 eV as the formation temperature is increased from 200 to 300 degrees C. It is found that irrespective of the excitation wavelength, the ZnO sample obtained at 200 degrees C exhibits stronger luminescence at 395 nm.