Optimization of EDTA–Ammonia Ratio for Chemically Deposited Layers of ZnO Nanoparticles

Abstract

Layers of zinc oxide (ZnO) on glass substrates were grown by chemical bath deposition method. This method refers to solvo-thermal methods of crystal growth. When either ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) or ammonia was used as a complex agent, very weak adhesion of ZnO nanoparticles to the surface of glass substrates was noted, and when washing, the samples on the surfaces were removed by a water flow under pressure. When EDTA and ammonia were used together, the adhesion of ZnO nanoparticles to glass substrates increased dramatically. According to X-ray diffraction data, all sediments belong to the hexagonal syngony and correspond to the wurtzite-type ZnO structure. Optical absorption measurements showed that the band gap varied from 3.58 to 3.97 eV. The density of beams from ZnO nanowires on the substrate surface varied depending on the ratio between EDTA and ammonia.