Photoluminescence of zinc oxide nanopowder synthesized by a combustion method

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanopowder was synthesized by a simple and quick combustion method using zinc nitrate as a precursor and glycine as a fuel material. The starting materials were mixed at room temperature and spontaneous ignition of which resulted into the ZnO nanopowder. The synthesized nanopowder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), Infrared (IR) spectrophotometer and spectroflurometer in order to study the structural, morphological, compositional and photoluminescence (PL) properties. The ZnO powder shows polycrystalline nature with preferential peak (101) having crystallite size 25 nm. A significant band at 532 cm−1 in the IR spectrum corroborates the presence of characteristic band of ZnO. Room temperature photoluminescence spectrum of the synthesized nanopowder exhibits a dominant, sharp and strong ultraviolet (UV) emission with a suppressed deep-level emission indicating good crystal quality and optical properties.

Graphical AbstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch Highlights►We report here the photoluminescence of the ZnO nanopowder. ►The powder was synthesized by combustion method from the mixture of zinc nitrate and glycine. ►Also the structural, compositional and morphological properties of the powder were reported.