The effect of surfactant on structural and optical properties of ZnO nanorods by wet chemical synthesis

ZnO nanoparticles have drawn a widespread attention recently due to their novel properties which contribute to various applications especially in gas sensing and optoelectronic devices. This paper presents a surfactant-assisted complex wet chemical method for the controlled preparation of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using zinc acetate as starting material. Here, the spherical ZnO nanoparticles with average size of less than 50 nm were successfully synthesized and their optical properties were analysed. In order to maximize its efficiency, surface modification with surfactants is vital as ZnO nanoparticles easily agglomerate. The effects of the surfactant on the average particle size and morphology of the ZnO nanoparticles were investigated using X-ray diffraction. Well dispersed ZnO nanoparticles with a uniform size distribution were obtained using Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) as a surfactant. The addition of surfactants controlled the particle size and reduced the formation of agglomerates and at the same time helped to produce more homogenous and uniformly dispersed particles.