Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nano-particles by Mechano-thermal Route

ZnO nano-particles were synthesized via mechano-thermal route using ZnSO4 center dot H2O and Na2CO3 as starting materials. The mixture of powders was milled for 5, 10 and 15 in a high energy planetary ball mill, then heat treated at 300 degrees C for 1 hour. XRD results of the heat treated sample at 300 degrees C revealed a single phase nano-crystalline ZnO phase with a mean crystallite size of 18 nm. FESEM micrographs of the heat treated sample showed that mean particle size of the ZnO decreased from 150 nm for 5-hour milled sample to 25 nm for 15-hour milled sample. It was also found that the optical properties of the samples varied as a function of milling time.