Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanowire: Applying Findings to Predict its Uses

Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanowires featuring a hexagonal configuration were successfully synthesized through the chemical bath deposition technique. The characterization of the nanowires was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and a spectrophotometer. The SEM images revealed that the diameters of the ZnO nanowires varied from 170.3 to 481 nm, indicating that a bath solution pH of 8.1 is optimal for the formation of hexagonal ZnO nanowires. The XRD patterns validated that the ZnO nanowires exhibit a hexagonal crystallite structure, with the crystallite size, determined via Scherrer’s equation, increasing with elevated annealing temperatures (0.536 nm, 0.541 nm, and 0.557 nm at 100°C, 150°C, and 200°C, respectively). EDX analysis yielded insights into the elemental composition of the samples, confirming the presence of Zn and O. Results from optical analysis demonstrated that ZnO nanowires possess high absorbance in the ultraviolet and infrared spectra while exhibiting significant transmittance in the visible spectrum. Furthermore, the absorbance of the nanowires was found to increase with higher annealing temperatures. Their notable absorbance in the ultraviolet range indicates potential applications as solar harvesters for capturing solar energy for photovoltaic panels, which can convert sunlight directly into electricity for commercial or industrial use.