Abstract
The paper reports on the synthesis of Zn2SnO4 (ZTO) nanoparticles using the hydrothermal method. To obtain the optimal condition, ZTO nanoparticles were synthesized as a function of annealing temperature. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) shows the formation of single crystalline phase in the face-centred-cubic spinel structure. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) of annealed sample at 1100 °C shows agglomerated particles of ZTO. The optical characterization of the ZTO by UV–vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of pure phase related to ZTO. We note that the increase of annealing temperature from 700 °C to 950 °C demonstrates the appearance of ZTO, SnO2 and ZnO phases. Above 950 °C there is only formation of spinel structure of Zn2SnO4. This observation consistent with vibrational modes, provided by Raman spectroscopy. PL spectra exhibit large band in the visible range further UV-violet band. The later was assigned to the near band-edge emission. The white emission was attributed to oxygen vacancies, crystal defects and Zn or Sn interstitial in the ZTO host. Such emission shows the possible application of ZTO as white LED. However, the presence of various defects with visible emissions is a good motivation for application of ZTO as active electrode in dye sensitized solar cells application.