Advances in ZnO: Manipulation of defects for enhancing their technological potentials

Abstract

This review attempts to compile the physics and chemistry of defects in zinc oxide (ZnO), at both, the fundamental and application levels. The defects, either inherent ones or introduced externally, have broadened the ZnO material field in various directions. The ZnO material exhibits many defect-attributed properties leading to broad technological applications: electronic and optoelectronic devices, sensors, optical components, ceramic industry, biomedical, catalysis, lightening, etc. Considering the huge defect-dependent technological scopes, the ZnO material is constantly engineered for various defects, and corresponding functionalities are tailored with respect to particular applications. The functional properties of ZnO are strongly influenced by the defects, and as a result, the defect engineering of the ZnO materials has remained an important motivation in materials science and engineering in terms of localized defects, extended defects, impurities, and surface defects, etc. A detailed characterization of these defects seems to be an essential part of any research area. The correlations of the microstructural characteristics with electrical and optical properties of ZnO are then a natural step for further facilitating an efficient way toward advanced ZnO-based materials and devices. The present review is an effort to shed light on the defects of ZnO, properties, theoretical aspects, and corresponding applications.

Active Packaging Material Based on Immobilized Diatomaceous Earth/Zinc Oxide/High-Density Polyethylene Composite for Sea Food and Products

“…Due to its physicochemical property and porous structure, DE has efficient adsorbent properties, and it has been observed that it may effectively reduce the fishy odor during low-temperature adsorption. In addition, ZnO may dissociate hydrogen in a heterogeneous manner, and a ZnO-tailored matrix would increase the number of positively charged volatile molecules with high adsorbent material potential [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ].…”

Secured Nanosynthesis–Deposition Aerosol Process for Composite Thin Films Incorporating Highly Dispersed Nanoparticles

“…[ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ] The formation of ZnO NPs by this approach is highly appealing as ZnO NPs present wide technological applications due to their unique properties. These include electro‐optical properties, [ 41 , 42 ] which can be used in devices such as ultraviolet (UV) light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), [ 42 , 43 ] blue luminescent devices or UV lasers [ 44 ] ; photo(electro)catalytic water treatment, [ 45 , 46 , 47 ] antibacterial agents, [ 48 , 49 ] solar cells, [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 ] and others. [ 55 , 56 ] Such unique properties require not only the ZnO material to be nanosized, but also to be homogeneously dispersed without agglomeration.…”

Overview of biofertilizers in crop production and stress management for sustainable agriculture

“…Insoluble forms of zinc are mostly ZnO, Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 , ZnCO 3 , and metallic Zn. The usable form of zinc by the plant is divalent cations (Ayoub et al, 2022 ). Zinc-solubilizing fertilizers contain the zinc solubilization bacteria which produce the organic acids to solubilize the insoluble zinc to Zn +2 , thereby enhancing zinc uptake in plants (Nitu et al, 2020 ).…”