Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles by Spray Pyrolysis Method

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized by spray pyrolysis method using an aqueous solution of zinc acetate at various concentrations from 5 to 25 wt%. The decomposition of precursor solutions was carried out at 800, 1000 and 1200ºC under different atomizing pressures. The crystal structure and morphology of synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) spectrometry and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), which indicated that ZnO nanoparticles were of hexagonal wurtzite structure. The XRD, TEM and BET analyses of prepared ZnO powders with concentrations of 5-20 wt% showed that the crystallite size diameter and specific surface area of particles were in the range of 10-25 nm and 44-56 m2/g, respectively.It was found that impurity and unreacted zinc acetate appeared in the product with increase of precursor solution concentration beyond 20wt%.