Nanostructured ZnO hexagons and optical properties

We report the solvothermal synthesis of nanostructured ZnO hexagons by hydrothermal method via intermediate zinc adipate. The intermediate zinc adipate was obtained using precursors zinc acetate and adipic acid in aqueous and organic medium. Detailed XRD analysis of the zinc adipate was studied for the first time. Thermal study of intermediate showed the formation of ZnO at 400 °C. XRD study demonstrated the existence of wrutzite ZnO of high degree of crystallinity with crystallite size in the range of 20–25 nm. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed distinguished morphology in different medium. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) demonstrated nanostructured ZnO hexagons with average size 25–50 nm. The band gap for aqueous and organic mediated ZnO was found to be 3.24 and 3.26 eV, respectively. The band gap obtained is higher than the bulk ZnO, which implies nanocrystalline nature of the material.