Formation of zinc oxide with room temperature photoluminescence by electrolyzing Zn in ethanol solution

Zinc oxide (ZnO) with strong photoluminescence (PL) at room temperature has been prepared by electrolyzing a zinc plate in ethanol solution. The particles were initially suspended in the solution, and thereafter deposited on the surface of Pt cathode by electrophoresis. The formation rate of the zinc oxide was measured as a function of the applied voltage from 50 to 400 V. The structure of the electrolysis products was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method, ultraviolet (UV)-visible absorption spectrum and electron diffraction pattern (EDP).