Synthesis and characterisation of sol-gel derived zinc oxide nanowires: unveiling structural and optical attributes

We present an in-depth study on the synthesis of nanowires using sol-gel methods and their characterisation with advanced analytical tools, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-VIS spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). ZnO nanowires were fabricated with exceptional crystallinity and consistent morphology through precise optimisation of synthesis parameters. XRD analysis confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure of the samples. UV-VIS Spectroscopy revealed a prominent absorption peak at 320 nm and an estimated energy band gap of 3.50 eV. SEM imaging demonstrated the nanowire morphology with diameters ranging from 100 to 180 nm and lengths extending to several micrometres.