Facile synthesis of tetrapodal ZnO nanoparticles by modified French process and its photoluminescence

Facile synthesis of tetrapodal ZnO nanoparticles was conducted using a modified French process in which oxygen and nitrogen flow rates were controlled. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles exhibit photoluminescent characteristics depending on the synthesis conditions. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that the tetrapodal nanostructure of ZnO with high crystallinity which was confirmed by XRD analyses could be controlled by a variation of O2/N2 feed ratio. Typical photoluminescence with UV and blue emission of the tetrapodal ZnO nanoparticles was influenced by the particle size and crystallinity, which is manipulated by the oxidation condition.