The research on ZnO has a long history but experiences an extremely vivid revival during the last 10 years. We critically discuss in this didactical review old and new results concentrating on optical properties but presenting shortly also a few aspects of other fields like transport or magnetic properties. We start generally with the properties of bulk samples, proceed then to epitaxial layers and nanorods, which have in many respects properties identical to bulk samples and end in several cases with data on quantum wells or nano crystallites. Since it is a didactical review, we present explicitly misconceptions found frequently in submitted or published papers, with the aim to help young scientists entering this field to improve the quality of their submitted manuscripts. We finish with an appendix on quasi two- and one-dimensional exciton cavity polaritons.

65 years of ZnO research – old and very recent results

Preparation and characterization of ZnO nanoparticles by a novel sol–gel route

Carbon enhanced blue-violet luminescence in ZnO films grown by pulsed laser deposition

The synthesis and characterization of nanosized zinc oxide and its nanofluid in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix have been done in the present investigation. Crystalline zinc oxide nanoparticles are synthesized using single-step chemical method while the nanofluids are prepared by the dispersion of nanoparticles in PVA solution using an ultrasonicator. The prepared nanoparticles are characterized using X-ray diffraction, SEM–EDX and UV–visible spectrum. The particle size distribution measurement is carried out by acoustic particle sizer. The ultrasonic velocities are measured in the synthesized nanofluid under different physical conditions using an ultrasonic interferometer. It is found that the degree of crystallinity of nanoparticles depends on the evaporation rate during its synthesis and ultrasonic velocity has non-linear relation with temperature for the present nanofluid.

H Muto

Papers

Ultraviolet lasing with low excitation intensity in deep-level emission free ZnO films