Facile large-scale synthetic route to monodisperse ZnO nanocrystals

We report an efficient, robust and up-scalable synthetic route to small, spherical, well stabilized, narrow disperse, crystalline ZnO nanoparticles. The synthesis utilizes Zn-oleate or Zn-stearate as precursors, which are hydrolyzed in polar organic solvents to obtain ZnO nanoparticles in diameters in the range of 3–5 nm on multi-gram scales. The synthesis exploits the use of oleates and stearates as good precursors and stabilizing agents together with the hydrolysis route to obtain small ZnO nanoparticles in a well-controlled way. The nanoparticles show the characteristic bright green fluorescence emission, and can be precipitated, dried, and redispersed in common organic solvents without aggregation. Because of their good steric stabilization and hydrophobic coating, these nanoparticles are very suitable for applications in polymer nanocomposites for UV-absorption and opto-electronic applications.