Hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanorods: a statistical determination of the significant parameters in view of reducing the diameter.
In this paper a 2(8-4) fractional factorial design of experiments is applied to identify the important parameters that affect the average diameter of ZnO rods, synthesized by means of a hydrothermal procedure. A water-based Zn(2+) precursor is used for the formation of one-dimensional ZnO particles, without the presence of an organic additive. Results indicate that, at the investigated levels, four of the parameters have a significant effect on the mean diameter. These are the temperature, the heating rate, stirring and an ultrasonic pre-treatment of the precursor solution. Experiments carried out with zinc acetate and zinc chloride do not show a significant difference in rod diameter. Other parameters that do not show a significant effect are the concentration of Zn(2+), the molar ratio between the hydroxyl and the zinc ions, and the reaction time. Interactions are observed between stirring and an ultrasonic pre-treatment and between the zinc concentration and the OH:Zn ratio. By fixing the significant factors at their optimal value it is possible to decrease the mean diameter. The particles are characterized by means of x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Elen
Ken
K
Hasselt University, Institute for Materials Research, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
Van den Rul
Heidi
H
Hardy
An
A
Van Bael
Marlies K
MK
D'Haen
Jan
J
Peeters
Roos
R
Franco
Dirk
D
Mullens
Jules
J
D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D006358:Hot Temperature; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
D003102:Colloids; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D014867:Water; D015034:Zinc Oxide