Preparation of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) nano particles by hydrothermal synthesis

Aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanometric particles were synthesized by hydrothermal method. Aluminum nitrate hydrate, aluminum sec-butoxide and zinc nitrate hydrate were used as the starting materials, and n-propanol and 2-butanol were used as solvents. Ratio of Al₂O₃ in ZnO was kept at 10 wt%. Reaction was conducted in a Teflon autoclave at 175–225 °C for 5 h. Ratios of alcohol, H₂O and HCl to zinc nitrate hydrate were altered and 6 different sets of parameters were investigated. Obtained products were subjected to powder-XRD, particle size measurement, TEM examination and AAS analysis. Single phase AZO particles were obtained at alcohol to zinc nitrate ratio of 35, acid to zinc nitrate ratio of 0.2, at 225 °C. Particle size was determined as 3.2 ± 0.4 nm from TEM examinations and as 1–2 nm from dynamic light scattering. Synthesized particles have amphiphilic character, thus they can be dispersed in both polar and non-polar media. It was seen from the UV-diffuse reflectance spectra that the AZO powder had low reflectance in the UV region and high reflectance in the visible region. The obtained powder has the potential to be utilized in the form of thin films for optical and electronic purposes.