In situ thermo-TOF-SIMS study of thermal decomposition of zinc acetate dihydrate

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) was used for an in situ thermal decomposition study of Zn(CH3COO)(2).2H(2)O forming ZnO nanoparticles. TOF-SIMS spectra were recorded at regular temperature intervals of 25degreesC in positive and negative detection modes in a dynamic thermal process. Controlled heating (5degreesC min(-1)) of Zn(CH3COO)(2)(.)2H(2)O was also carried out using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in an oxygen atmosphere (20 ml min(-1)). Nearly spherical ZnO nanoparticles with no agglomeration and a narrow size distribution (diameter similar to50 nm) were observed, which were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. In situ thermo-TOF-SIMS was used to monitor the Zn-64(+) and Zn-66(+) ion abundances as a function of temperature, which showed a similar profile to that observed for weight loss in TGA during decomposition. Based on the experimental results, a possible decomposition mechanism for the formation of ZnO is proposed. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.