Synthesis of ZnO Nanostructures by Microwave Irradiation Using Albumen as a Template

ZnO nanostructures have been successfully prepared by a microwave irradiation method. The role of albumen as a template in addressing the size and morphology of ZnO has been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. A heterogeneous mixture of Zn(OH)2 and ZnO was obtained in absence of albumen. Pure ZnO nanostructures, consisting of rod- and whisker-like nanoparticles embedded in a sheet matrix, were obtained in the presence of albumen. Optical and photoluminescence (PL) properties of the synthesized samples were also compared. Results obtained indicate that the microwave-assisted method is a promising low temperature, cheap, and fast method for the production of ZnO nanostructures.