Fe-Doped ZnO: Effects of Sintering Time on Particle Size and Morphological Defects

Fe-doped ZnO nanostructures synthesized via hydrothermal methods exhibit high surface-to-volume ratios, making them applicable in antimicrobial, sensing, and optoelectronic applications. In our lab, we investigated how thermal cook time influences particle morphology using scanning electron microscopy coupled with Image J analysis. Our results across samples revealed an inverse relationship between sintering time and particle diameter—contrary to the direct correlation often reported. We hypothesize this trend was due to prolonged thermal exposure leading to surfactant breakdown, which promotes densification and grain boundary migration rather than particle growth. Additionally, many of these nano/microparticles exhibited defects (non-spherical morphologies) including rods, flower-shaped rods, and sea urchin-shaped particles. These insights advance understanding of time-dependent structural evolution of Fe:ZnO systems, enabling the need for more precise control of particle size and morphology. Such control may be harnessed to tailor nanoparticles for antimicrobial activity or larger microparticles for enhanced light absorption in optoelectronic devices.