Nanocrystalline zinc oxide: Pyrolytic synthesis and spectroscopic characteristics

Nanocrystalline and microcrystalline ZnO powders are synthesized by the pyrolysis of organic zinc salts in the presence of a reducing catalyst represented by a porous cellulose carrier. The specimens obtained are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, energy dispersive analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and pulse cathodoluminescence. Lasing characteristics of the specimens are studied. The synthesis conditions, under which specimens with the crystallite morphology optimal for a low-threshold lasing are obtained, are found.