Influence of pH on ZnO nanocrystalline thin films prepared by sol-gel dip coating method

ZnO nanocrystalline thin films have been prepared on glass substrates by sol-gel dip coating method. ZnO thin films have been coated at room temperature and at four different pH values of 4, 6, 8 and 10. The X-ray diffraction pattern showed that ZnO nanocrystalline thin films are of hexagonal structure and the grain size was found to be in the range of 25-45 nm. Scanning electron microscopic images show that the surface morphology improves with increase of pH values. TEM analysis reveals formation of ZnO nanocrystalline with an average grain size of 44 nm. The compositional analysis results show that Zn and O are present in the sample. Optical band studies show that the films are highly transparent and exhibit a direct bandgap. The bandgap has been found to lie in the range of 314-332 eV depending on pH suggesting the formation of ZnO nanocrystalline thin films.