Growth Kinetics and Modeling of ZnO Nanoparticles

This article describes a method to measure the growth kinetics of a zinc oxide colloid. Using common instrumentation such as UV–vis spectroscopy, the cut-off wavelength can be determined and hence, the particle size can be estimated. Using existing models of colloidal nanoparticle properties, the absorbance is modeled and compared to the experimental curves. The effect of different parameters in the model such as particle size, refractive index, and solvent type are investigated and conclusions drawn about the nature of nanoparticulate systems.