Effect of pH on the morphology and optical properties of modified ZnO particles by SDS via a precipitation method

ZnO particles were synthesized directly from an aqueous solution of zinc acetate dihydrate in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium hydroxide at 70 °C. The morphological changes were investigated in the range of pH 8–12. The hexagonal prism-like shape was formed at pH 8 and 10 by inhibition of growth along the c direction whereas the small rod-like shape was observed at pH 12. The estimated band gap and the room temperature photoluminescence intensity in a visible region are dependent upon the geometrical shape and size of the ZnO particles.