Structural, optical and ferroelectric behavior of hydrothermally grown ZnO nanostructures

In the present study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures have been synthesized at 100 °C for different aging periods, 1, 24, 48 and 96 h by hydrothermal method. Structural, optical and ferroelectric properties were investigated using X-ray diffractometer, field emission scanning electron microscope, Transmission electron microscope, photoluminescence, UV-visible, Raman spectroscopy and P-E loop tracer. The X-ray diffractometer pattern indicates the pure phase formation of ZnO without any impurity for the samples synthesized from 1 to 96 h aging periods, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope analysis also shows that the average diameter and length of these nanorods increases with increasing the aging periods. Moreover Raman and Photoluminescence spectrum also confirm the wurtzite phase formation of ZnO. The optical band gaps calculated through UV-visible spectroscopy are found to decrease from 3.81 to 3.45 eV with increase in aging periods, 1-96 h, respectively. Further, improved ferroelectric behavior has been observed for 48 and 96 h aged samples.