Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles from Zinc Formate and their Optical Properties

Zinc oxide nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by alkaline precipitation method from zinc formate dihydrate and sodium hydroxide using sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as a surface active agent. In another experiment, the zinc salt was heated at 600°C for comparison with the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles by precipitation method. Defined morphological characteristics of complex nanomaterial such as spherical, nanoflex, dumb-bell like and rod-like shapes have been obtained. The nanoparticles were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphologies of synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles were determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The elemental composition of the nanoparticles was carried out by SEM attached Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffractometer (EDX). Optical properties of prepared ZnO nanoparticles were studied by UV-visible spectrophotometer. It has been found that band gap of the nanoparticles are in the range 3.36 – 3.65 eV and the radii of the particles are in the range 1.48 – 2.73 nm.