GROWTH-KINETICS OF NANOCRYSTALLINE ZNO PARTICLES FROM COLLOIDAL SUSPENSIONS

Colloidal chemistry techniques were used to synthesize ZnO particles i n the nanometer size regime. The particle aging kinetics were determin ed by monitoring the optical band edge absorption and using the effect ive mass model to approximate the particle size as a function of time. We show that the growth kinetics of the ZnO particles follow the Lifs hitz-Slyozov-Wagner theory for Ostwald ripening. In this model, the hi gher curvature and hence chemical potential of smaller particles provi des a driving force for dissolution. The larger particles continue to grow by diffusion-limited transport of species dissolved in solution.