Synthesis of ZnTe Nanoparticles by Microwave Irradiation Technique, and Their Characterization

Abstract

The solid state syntheses of cubic Zinc Telluride nanoparticles were successesfully achieved for the first time by microwave irradiation technique within ∼25 min as per the author's knowledge. The crystalline phase was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. The crystallite size was calculated and found to be ∼40 nm. Scanning electron microscope was also used to determine the size and shape of the nanoparticles, and the average particle size was found to be ∼60 nm with spherical shapes. The particle size distribution was in range of ∼50 to 70 nm. One transverse optic (TO) and two longitudinal optic (1LO and 2LO) phonon modes were observed at 167 and 205, 408 cm–1 in the FT-Raman spectrum. The optical band gap was calculated which has found to be 2.51 eV higher than the bulk ZnTe (E g = 2.26 eV), it reveals a clear blue shift with an energy difference 0.25 eV, this may be due to the crystallite size, exciton or charge carrier confinement