Mahapatro, Ajit KumarTandona, Ram PalKumara, Subodh2025-10-292025-10-292025Kumar, S., Tandon, R.P. and Mahapatro, A.K., 2025. Effect of Calcination on Morphology of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles. Integrated Ferroelectrics, 241(7-9), pp.570-581.https://doi.org/10.1080/10584587.2025.2483638https://hdl.handle.net/10566/21321Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are synthesized using the sol-gel method by considering zinc acetate dihydrate as a precursor, and the morphology and crystalline structure of the as-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles are understood using materials characterization techniques. The effect of calcination temperature and time on the morphology of ZnO powder is studied thoroughly and systematically. The recipe for preparing highly pure ZnO powders is optimized at minimal calcination temperature and time. The powder X-ray diffraction analysis reveals a wurtzite crystal structure for ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). From the diffraction patterns, it is evident that the powders calcined at 700 °C for 3 h closely match the JCPDS standard for minimal calcination temperature and time. The peak at 364.48 cm−1 in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy provides information about the bonding interaction between Zn and O in ZnO-NPs. The UV-Visible absorption spectra of ZnO-NPs indicate a shifting of peak from 374.37 to 378.49 nm, and the corresponding Tauc plot estimates a change in band gap from 2.461 eV to 2.847 eV for ZnO prepared with calcined at 700 °C for 3 h and 6 h, respectively, due to change in morphology and particle size. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images indicate the formation of spherical-shaped nanoparticles with smooth surfaces and EDAX spectra reveal compositions of zinc and oxygen-only ZnO-NPs. Noticeable changes in the particle size and morphology are observed with increasing calcination temperature. The Raman spectra of the ZnO-NPs recorded using a 514 nm excitation wavelength indicate E2(high) mode at 437.5 cm−1 in Zno-NPs prepared by calcining at 700 °C for 3 h. The optimal condition for achieving high pure ZnO-NPs with well-defined morphology is concluded by calcining the ZnO powder at 700 °C for a duration of 3 h.enZinc Oxide NanoparticlesSol-GelCrystalline StructureFESEMEDAXArticle