Microstructural and optical properties of ZnO coatings from colloidal inks

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 23; no. 2
• Main Authors: Morales-Mendoza, J. E., Herrera-Pérez, G., López-Martinez, E.I., Lardizabal-Gutierrez, D., Paraguay-Delgado, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coatings; Colloids; Diameters; Ethylene glycol; Flakes; Inks; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Materials Science; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optical properties; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Research Paper; Sedimentation; Substrates; Thickness; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxides; Drop coating; Ink; Zinc oxide; Semiconductor oxide; Coating; Colloidal; Flakes-like nanoparticles
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-021-05153-0

Nanoparticles (NPs) and flake-like morphologies of zinc oxide (ZnO) were synthesized by colloidal and hydrothermal methods, respectively. The flake-like particle dimensions have 270 ± 60 nm average diameter and 47 ± 7 nm thickness, in the case of NPs that have 10 ± 2 nm as an average diameter. These two types of particles were used to formulate colloidal inks, using ethylene glycol as a dispersing medium. The inks were formulated with different percentages of particle content and their viscosity and sedimentation as a function of time were studied. ZnO coatings were obtained by the drop coating method for optimized ink formulated with 1 wt% of particle content, obtaining coatings between 3- and 17-μm thickness. The particles present adequate dispersion on the substrate without degradation. These coatings present stability in the particle morphology, structure, adequate absorption in the UV region, and their bandgap values.