Fabrication of zinc oxide nano-structures in RF inductively-coupled thermal plasma and their photoluminescence effects

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and nano-structures were synthesized using RF inductively-coupled thermal plasma system. The ZnO nanoparticles synthesized in high enthalpy plasmas showed high purity and extremely small crystalline characteristics with the (30–50) nm size distribution applicable in various areas. The resultant morphology of the ZnO nanoparticles was influenced by process parameters such as chamber pressure, a cooling method and a reactor configuration. Thus, the effects of process conditions were discussed with perspective of the re-crystallization. In addition, by controlling the operational parameters, flower-like shaped ZnO nano-structures consisting of many hexagonal nano-rods with six facets were also obtained. The ZnO nano-structures showed a good optical property in photoluminescence analysis.