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Assisted spray pyrolysis production and characterisation of ZnO nanoparticles with narrow size distribution

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Abstract

Nano-sized ZnO particles with a narrow size distribution and high crystallinity were prepared from aqueous solutions with high concentrations of Zn2+ containing salts and citric acid in a conventional spray pyrolysis setup. Structure, morphology and size of the produced material were compared to ZnO material produced by simple spray pyrolysis of zinc nitrates in the same experimental setup. Using transmission electron microscopy and electron tomography it has been shown that citric acid-assisted spray pyrolysed material is made up of micron sized secondary particles comprising a shell of lightly agglomerated, monocrystalline primary ZnO nanoparticles with sizes in the 20–30 nm range, separable by a simple ultrasonic treatment step.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge support from the European Union under the Framework 6 program under a contract from an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative (Reference 026019 ESTEEM).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium

    S. Turner, E. Biermans, S. Bals & G. Van Tendeloo

  2. Department of Applied Engineering and Technology, Karel de Grote University College, Salesianenlaan 30, 2660, Hoboken, Belgium

    S. M. F. Tavernier

  3. Umicore Group R&D, Kasteelstraat 7, 2250, Olen, Belgium

    G. Huyberechts

  4. Vision Lab, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium

    K. J. Batenburg

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  1. S. Turner
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  2. S. M. F. Tavernier
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  3. G. Huyberechts
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  4. E. Biermans
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  5. S. Bals
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  7. G. Van Tendeloo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Turner.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

11051_2009_9630_MOESM1_ESM.mpg

A 3D discrete tomography reconstructed movie showing a secondary spherical structure built up of primary ZnO nanoparticles produced by CA-assisted spray pyrolysis. (MPG 6543 kb)

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Turner, S., Tavernier, S.M.F., Huyberechts, G. et al. Assisted spray pyrolysis production and characterisation of ZnO nanoparticles with narrow size distribution. J Nanopart Res 12, 615–622 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-009-9630-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-009-9630-1

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