Phytochemical Mediated Sol–Gel Synthesis, Crystallographic Structure, Morphology and Optical Investigations on ZnO Nanoparticles

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized through sol–gel technique using Azadirachta indica leaves extract. The formation of structure, crystallite parameters, size and morphology were studied through Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Selected Area Electron Diffraction  data records. X-ray diffraction peaks revealed the presence of hexagonal wurtzite structure for ZnO nanoparticles. The crystallite size and lattice strain of the prepared sample were respectively obtained through measuring the X-ray diffraction peaks broadening and Hall Williamson analysis using anisotropic and isotropic models. The estimated crystallite size using TEM, Scherrer formula and Hall Williamson models were found in well agreement with each other. The optical properties were investigated from the UV–Vis reflectance data and the photoluminescence spectrum recorded at room temperature. The chromaticity color coordinates obtained from the photoluminescence spectrum shows that the biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles can be useful for white luminescence applications.