Influence of the shaker mill in the properties of ZnO processed by high energy milling

Abstract

This work evaluates how the High Energy Ball Milling (HEBM) in a shaker mill influences the optical, physical, and microstructural properties of ZnO. The procedure also combines Fe inclusion from the grinding medium with particle size reduction. ZnO powder was milled by 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h, which resulted in a particle size reduction to the nanometric scale with a mean size of around 50 nm and a crystallite size reduction by three times when processed from 4 h. Milling has proven to be an efficient process for obtaining nanoparticles with an incredibly short processing time and changed the morphology of the particles from random to spherical shapes. Results also indicate the processing progressively expanded the ZnO hexagonal structure due to the imposed strain and Fe inclusion, which can help to decrease the bandgap and slow down the recombination rate of the electron-hole pairs, improving the photocatalysis activity. The optical results showed no additional band appeared due to milling processes and diminished the bandgap from 3.37 to 3.21 eV. Milling also led to an increase in the c value from 5.2076 to 5.2112 Å, which is one of the most important factors for improved antibacterial activity. HEBM has proved to be a suitable process for obtaining ZnO nanoparticles with properties useful for various applications.