Photoconductivity and photoluminescence of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized via co-precipitation method.

Photoconductivity and photoluminescence studies of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by co-precipitation method capped with thioglycerol are carried out. The effect of annealing at 300°C is also studied. The transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirm the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO nanoparticles. The UV-vis absorption spectrum of ZnO NPs shows blue shift of absorption peak as compared to bulk ZnO. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of as-synthesized ZnO NPs show band edge emission as well as blue-green emission. After annealing band edge emission is quenched. Photocurrent is found to vary super linearly at high voltage for both as-synthesized as well as annealed ZnO NPs. Time resolved rise and decay photocurrent spectra are found to exhibit anomalous photoconductivity for as-synthesized as well as annealed ZnO NPs wherein the photocurrent decreases even during steady illumination.