Structural and optical characterizations of zinc oxide nanostructures synthesized at low temperatures via sol–gel technique

Abstract The present study demonstrates the feasibility of synthesizing high-quality ZnO nanostructures at extremely low temperatures using the sol–gel method. The synthesized nanostructured samples are analysed through various analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and zeta potential measurements. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed highly intense, distinct peaks corresponding to the (100) (002), and (101) crystallographic planes, confirming the presence of a hexagonal wurtzite structure for all synthesized samples. All the samples exhibited maximum absorption peaks at wavelengths of 383 nm, 368 nm, and 358 nm, with corresponding band gap energies 2.93 eV, 3.58 eV, and 3.68 eV. The field effect scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the synthesized samples (1) (II), and (III) displayed a microstructure like a nanoparticle. Furthermore, zeta potential measurements provided insights into the surface charge characteristics of the samples. This approach can lead to the development of cost-effective, energy-efficient, and scalable processes for the fabrication of advanced materials and devices in optoelectronics, sensors, catalysis, and biomedical applications. Further research is needed to optimize the synthesis parameters and explore the full potential of these low-temperature-synthesized ZnO nanostructures in various applications.