Properties of ZnO nanostructures produced by mechanochemical-solid state combustion method using different precursors

Nanostructured zinc oxide (ZnO) samples were produced by the mechanochemical-solid state combustion method using different precursors, namely citric acid, maleic acid, sodium oxalate, salicylic acid, tartaric acid and urea. The ZnO samples were characterised by XRD. The average crystallite sizes of the samples were found to be between 18 and 67 nm and from 43 to 69 nm for synthesis temperatures of 400 and 600 °C, respectively. The morphology of the samples was investigated by SEM, and their particle sizes were found to be between 25 and 223 nm and from 38 to 339 nm for synthesis temperatures at 400 and 600 °C, respectively. The electrical conductivity measurements of the samples were performed via the four probe method. The ZnO samples produced at 600 °C have higher electrical conductivity than those produced at 400 °C. Also, the optical absorbances of the ZnO samples were measured via Uv/vis spectrophotometer.