International Conference on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering and Interdisciplinary Developments [ICRAMID - 2014]

Study of Photoluminescence and Photoconductivity in

ZnO Nanoparticles
Nitin Pandey

Rajneesh Kumar Srivastava*

Department of Electronics and Communication,

University of Allahabad 211002, Allahabad-India
*rkumarsau@gmail.com

Department of Electronics and Communication,

University of Allahabad 211002, Allahabad-India

Abstract- In this paper, PC and PL properties of ZnO

nanoparticles synthesized by sol-gel method have been studied.XRD
and SEM studies have been performed for structural properties of
ZnO NPS. The crystallite size calculated from XRD for ZnO NPs
lies in the range 37- 46 nm. SEM images show formation of ZnO
NPs of size lying in the range 55-65nm. UVvisible spectroscopy
and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy has been used to
investigate optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles at room
temperature. Rise and decay curve of photo current exhibits
anomalous behavior.
Keywords-ZnO,
Nano,
Sol-gel
Photoconductivity, Rise and decay

method,

XRD,

SEM

I. INTRODUCTION
ZnO is one of the most important materials for the next
generation UV- devices such as transparent electrodes and UV
laser diodes, blue and UV solid state emitters and detectors due
to its large free exciton binding energy (60 meV) and wide band
gap (3.37 eV). In past few years many low dimensional ZnO
structures have been reported such as nano particles, wires,
tubes, marigolds, multi-pods, belts rings, helixes, springs and
combs.
There are various methods for synthesis of ZnO such as ,
thermal evaporation ,chemical evaporation ,deposition method
method, co-precipitation method, spray pyrolysis method,
hydrothermal method, sol-gel method etc.
To get the information regarding the nature of materials it
is important to study the photoconductivity properties.
Photoconductivity arises from the photo generation of electronholes pair in material as a result of absorption of photons due to
which free carrier density increases. Inorganic nanoparticles
have got attention [1-3] of research community due to their
photoconducting properties and their application in a number of
electronic and optical devices. Here in the present work ZnO
NPs have been synthesized by sol-gel method. Photoconducting
and photoluminescence properties have been studied.
II. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION

For the synthesis of ZnO NPs Zinc acetate (Zn

(CH3COOH)2.2H20) and Diethanolamine (DEA) were directly
used without any special treatment.
In 100 ml of double distilled water 2.195 gm of Zinc acetate
was mixed and stirred for 10 hours and jelly was formed. Then it
is placed in furnace at 125 0C for 10 hours. The obtained sample
was ground to get fine powder. The fine powder is again placed
in furnace at 550 0C for 12 hours. The final product is ground
further.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
A. Structural Study
Figure 1 shows XRD pattern of ZnO nano particles (NPs)
synthesized by sol-gel method at room temperature. The
obtained peaks are well matched with that of standard wurtizite
ZnO. The broadening in XRD peaks pattern shows that nano
particles have been formed. The average crystallite size is
calculated from the Scherer formula [4].The average crystallite
size of sample lies in the range of 37 to 46 nm.
B. Morphology Study
Figure 2 shows SEM images of ZnO NPs. The NPs are
spherical in nature. Similar morphology has been reported
earlier [5-6]. The grain size lies in the range of 55 65 nm.
C. UV-visible Absorption Spectrum of ZnO NPs
Figure 3 shows the UVvisible absorption spectra of ZnO
NPs prepared by sol-gel method. The ZnO nanoparticles have
band edge absorption at 377 nm which shows blue shifting as
compared to bulk ZnO. Bulk ZnO is having absorption peak at
386 nm [7-9], that may be attributed to nano dimensions of ZnO
NPs.

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(101)

International Conference on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering and Interdisciplinary Developments [ICRAMID - 2014]

10000

(377)

Absorbance (a.u.)

(102)

4000

(103)

6000

(110)

(100)

8000

(002)

Intensity

(a.u.)

0.6

2000

0
30

40

50

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

60

2 Thetha (degree)

0.1

Fig. 1. XRD of ZnO Nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel method

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Wavelength (nm)
Fig. 3. UV-visible absorption of ZnO NPs prepared by sol-gel method.

D. Photoluminescence Study
To investigate the optical properties of ZnO NPs at room
temperature photoluminescence was conducted. A typical
spectrum is shown in Fig. 4, which shows two strong emission
peaks at 387 nm and 485 nm together with a weak peak at 420
nm. The first strong peak at 387 nm is due to recombination of
free excitons through an exciton-exciton collision process while
another two peaks at 420 nm and 485 are due to deep level
emissions [10-13].

Fig. 2. SEM images of ZnO at different resolutions prepared by sol-gel method

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International Conference on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering and Interdisciplinary Developments [ICRAMID - 2014]

Fig. 5 shows time resolved rise and decay photocurrent

spectrum of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). When the cell is
illuminated, the photocurrent increases and reaches to a peak
value. After attaining a peak value it starts decreasing even
during steady illumination and further it becomes stablized.
When light is switched off the current decreases sharply and gets
stablized. This anomalous behavior of photoconductivity is due
to large amount of recombination centres and due to the
presence of defect states and traps lying in the band gap [14-15].

14.8

485

PL Intensity (a.u.)

14.6

387

14.4

IV. CONCLUSIONS
ZnO NPs were synthesized by sol-gel method. XRD pattern
indicates formation of wurtizite hexagonal structure of ZnO NPs.
The crystallite size is in range of 37- 46 nm. SEM exhibits
formation of spherical ZnO NPs. UV-visible absorption
spectrum exhibits blue shifting of absorption edge.
Photoluminescence spectrum reveals three emission peaks at
387, 420 and 485 nm. Rise and decay current exhibits
anomalous behavior of photocurrent where in the photocurrent
decreases even during steady illumination.

420

14.2

14.0

13.8

350

375

400

425

450

475

500

525

550

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Wavelength (nm)

The authors are thankful to Nano Science Center of IIT Kanpur

for providing facilities of XRD and SEM.

Fig. 4. Photoluminescence spectrum of ZnO prepared by sol-gel method

E. Rise and decay of Photocurrent

REFERENCES
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2.5

[2]

Photocurrent (Ipc) (a.u.)

[3]
2.0

[4]
1.5

[5]

Light off
1.0

[6]

0.5

[7]

[8]

Light on
0.0
0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

[9]

Time (sec)
Fig. 5.
Rise and decay of photocurrent of ZnO NPs prepared by sol-gel method

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