Synthesis and characterization of ZnO tetrapods

ZnO was prepared by direct combustion method of pure zinc metal at 1000 °C for 30 min. After combustion, ZnO was formed as a fumed powder. The as-synthesized ZnO was characterized by means of different techniques such as: X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), diffused reflectance and the electrical conductivity measurements. XRD showed that ZnO has a nanocrystalline hexagonal phase with lattice constants a = 3.24982 Å and c = 5.20661 Å as compared to JCDPS card. From the analysis of the diffused reflectance spectra, the optical band gap was calculated and equals 3.2 eV which is in the same range for commercial ZnO and the reported ZnO prepared by other techniques. SEM micrographs showed the nanotetrapods structure of ZnO with highly uniform distribution of tetrapods. The DC electrical conductivity measurement was carried out in the temperature range 293–473 K, and it was found to be increased with increasing temperature forming three different conduction mechanisms associated with three activation energies.