Properties of ZnO Nanopowders Synthesized by Glycine-Nitrate Gel Combustion

The morphology and other physical properties of ZnO nanopowders synthesized by glycine-nitrate gel combustion process were investigated and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nanosizer and X-ray diffraction. Glycine, $NH_2CH_2COOH$, and zinc nitrate $Zn(NO_3)_2$·$6H_2O$ were dissolved in distilled water and the solution was coagulated by mixing at 90°C. The viscous gel prepared during glycine-nitrate mixing was heated at ≈220C to initiate the exothermic reactions by self-combustion where the temperature reached up to 1200°C. The glycine-nitrate ratio had a significant effect on the reaction temperature and final particle morphology. Therefore the synthesized powders have a different morphology like formless and spherical tufa ash. The particle size distribution was 50-1200 nm as measured using a nanosizer.