Tip Induced Growth of Zinc Oxide Nanoflakes Through Electrochemical Discharge Deposition Process and Their Optical Characterization

ZnO nanoflakes with varying thickness (10–120 nm) and width (250–1600 nm) were synthesized on the tooltip (∅ ≤ 200 μm) by a novel route method called electrochemical spark deposition and growth method. The leaf-like nanostructures were found under varying pulsated DC voltage potentials (50–80V) at normal room temperature (25°C). Equimolar concentration (0.1M) of zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO₃)₂.6H₂O) and methenamine ((CH₂)₆N₄) HMTA) mixture was used as a growth (precursor) solution. The anodization time (deposition and growth time) was varying from 10 seconds to 25 seconds. Further, the consequence of pulse voltage on the growth morphology was examined critically. The structural evolution and elemental composition were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) respectively. The size distribution (thickness and width) of ZnO nanoflakes were estimated by image processing software (Image J). Ultimately, the ultraviolet visible infrared spectroscopy (UV-Vis) analysis was carried out to determine the excitation energy of the zinc oxide nanoflakes. The estimated bandgap energy (via. Tauc plot) of the nanoflakes was found approximately 2.63 eV.