Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Undoped Nanocrytalline ZnO Particles Prepared by Co-Precipitation

A series of undoped nanocrystalline ZnO particles were successfully synthesized at various dry temperatures (100?C - 600?C) using coprecipitation method. The samples were characterized using a variety of experimental methods such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermal analysis TG-DTA, UV-vis spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR) and electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). According to XRD analysis, all of our ZnO samples posses the hexagonal wurzite structure with average crystallite size increased ranging from 19 - 23 nm as dry temperature increased. Optical absorption spectra show that the band gap shifted to the lower energy with increasing crystallite size. ESR measurements showed the resonance of electron centers with the g values of about 1.96. With increasing dry temperature we observed the decrease of the g values and the increase of the intensities of the ESR signal. In addition an increase in dry temperature results in a pronounce decrease of OH local vibrational modes. The results from ESR measurements are well supported by the results obtained from Infrared absorption spectroscopy and thermal analysis measurements.