Detonation synthesis of zinc oxide nanometer powders

Novel zinc oxide nanometer powders have been synthesized via detonation reaction with respect to the presence of an energetic precursor, such as lithium nitrate and zinc nitrate. The detonation products of emulsion explosives were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the structures. Zinc oxide with primary particles of diameters from 20 to 50 nm and a distribution with proportional spacing of spherical morphologies were found. The oxides produced by this cheap method affirmed the validity of detonation synthesis of nanosize powders. It is concluded that unconventional emulsion explosives are designed uniquely for synthesis of the nanometer zinc oxide.