Synthesis of Wurtzite Nano-crystalline ZnO-CoO Pigment by High Energy ‎Milling

Z n0.9Co0.1O ceramic pigments were ‎synthesized using simple high ‎energy milling method. Zinc and ‎cobalt oxides were used as starting ‎materials. Products were ‎investigated using simultaneous ‎thermal analysis and fourier ‎transformation infrared. Pigments ‎were characterized using X-ray ‎diffraction, diffuse reflectance and ‎Scanning Electron Microscopy. ‎The results showed the effect of ‎calcination temperature on Co ‎solubility and crystallite size. ‎Nano-crystalline Zn0.9Co0.1O pure ‎solid solution synthesized at ‎different temperatures consist of ‎‎300-500 nm semispherical ‎particles. Crystallite size of ‎Zn0.9Co0.1O calcinated at 1000?C ‎was about 100 nm. A broad ‎reflectance band around 540 nm ‎‎(green region) for all powders ‎indicating the appearance of deep ‎green pigment was observed. ‎Furthermore, elevation of ‎calcination temperature caused the ‎increase of color saturation. ‎