Preparation of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles via mechanochemical processing and determination of its band gap

In this work zinc oxide nanoparticles have been prepared via mechanochemical processing and subsequent heat treatments. In the first step Zn(CH3COO)2.2H2O and H2C2O4.2H2O have been milled in a mortar for 90 min to get ZnC2O4.2H2O. The milled powders were then heated for 2 hour at the temperatures between 350degC and 500degC. X-ray investigations show that a single phase zinc oxide nanoparticles can obtain at minimum temperature of 375degC .The zinc oxide has a hexagonal structure (wurtzite). Mean crystallite size of the samples was calculated via Scherrer's formula and is between 16 to 25 nm, depending on annealing temperature. Also the activation energy has been obtained via Scott formula .I-V character of the single phase Zinc Oxide nanoparticles annealed at 375degC has been obtained and its band gap has been determined.