Inquisition of reaction parameters on the growth and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized via low temperature reaction route

► Effect of surfactant and chelating agent on the formation of ZnO nanoparticles studied in detail. ► Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles by low temperature reaction route via ultrasonication. ► Due to quantum confinement effects, the band gap of the ZnO nanoparticles is blue shifted compared with the bulk material. ► Band gap of the ZnO nanoparticles is blue shifted compared with the bulk material.