EFFECT OF GELLING AGENT ON ZnO NANOSTRUCTURES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
M.F. Kasim, N. Kamarulzaman*, R. Rusdi
Abstract
EFFECT OF GELLING AGENT ON ZnO NANOSTRUCTURES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
M.F. Kasim1, N. Kamarulzaman2,3,*, R. Rusdi1,3
1Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
2School of Physics and Materials Studies, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
3Centre for Nanomaterials Research, Institute of Science, Level 3 Block C, Old Engineering Building, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
There are many methods that can be used to synthesize ZnO nanostructures. In this work, the sol-gel synthesis method is used. The effect of gelling agent is investigated in terms of the ZnO nanostructures obtained. One sample is done using a sol-gel synthesis route using tartaric acid and the other sample is synthesized without using a gelling agent at all. Results showed that the samples are pure, however the sample prepared using the gelling agent were rods with long aspect ratio while the one obtained without the gelling agent were rods with low aspect ratio. It was found that the band gap of the high aspect ratio is larger than the one with low aspect ratio.
Keywords: ZnO, gelling agent, sol-gel, rod
