Influence of the precursors in the morphology, structure, vibrational order and optical gap of nanostructured ZnO

Abstract

The synthesis of ZnO by reaction in solid state from two precursor salts (zinc acetate and zinc sulfate), presented significant differences concerning morphology, structure, vibrational order and optical gap. As well as covering in the size of the compounds, a homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles of 21$\pm$3 nm and microstars of 1.03$\pm$0.19 $\mu$m respectively. The ZnO showed a structural phase with a vibrational state of the hexagonal type (wurtzite). The variation in the morphology due to the precursor is attributed to the disorder within of lattice, which contributes to vibrational changes and is correlated to the degrees of freedom of molecules. Measurements of UV-Vis of nanoparticles displayed a band gap ($E_g$) lower than the one reported for the bulk material.