Abstract
Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) was used for an in situ thermal decomposition study of Zn(CH 3 COO 2 ·2H 2 O forming ZnO nanoparticles. TOF-SIMS spectra were recorded at regular temperature intervals of 25°C in positive and negative detection modes in a dynamic thermal process. Controlled heating (5°C min -1 ) of Zn(CH 3 COO 2 ·2H 2 O was also carried out using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in an oxygen atmosphere (20 ml min -1 ). Nearly spherical ZnO nanoparticles with no agglomeration and a narrow size distribution (diameter ∼50 nm) were observed, which were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. In situ thermo-TOF-SIMS was used to monitor the 64 Zn + and 66 Zn + ion abundances as a function of temperature, which showed a similar profile to that observed for weight loss in TGA during decomposition. Based on the experimental results, a possible decomposition mechanism for the formation of ZnO is proposed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.