Effect of Temperature, Solvent and Precursor Concentration on Anti-Aggregation of ZnO Nanoparticles Prepared by Polyol Method.

We have investigated the formation mechanism of ZnO microspheres in polyol medium. The synthesis conditions have been varied with respect to temperature, medium and Zn-precursor concentration. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy result shows that the prepared ZnO nanoparticles are hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure and quite crystalline in nature. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) image indicates that the microsphere consists of aggregated nanoparticles in the range of 6 nm to 15 nm. The samples prepared in ethylene glycol medium shows a characteristic ether bond vibration mode in FTIR and it is additionally confirmed by NMR analysis. Initially, the nanoparticles are self-assembled into loosely packed microsphere and then the particles are densely packed by ether bonds formed between the glycol molecules adsorbed on adjacent particles which then grow as perfect microspheres. The sample prepared in EG medium at 150 °C did not show much aggregation. This study proposes the possible mechanism for the formation of ZnO microsphere.