Zinc oxide applications

H. E. Brown, Zinc Oxide, Properties and Applications, International Lead Zinc Organization, Inc., New York, 1976, pp. 56—59. 

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has useful piezoelectric properties. It has an hexagonal structure (wurtzite type) with a density of 5.66 g/cm. It is relatively unstable and decomposes above 1700°C, which is below its melting point (1975°C). It is readily attacked by all common acids and bases. It has limited CVD applications at this time. 

Transparent semiconductor oxide films, such as tin oxide (Sn02) and zinc oxide (ZnO), produced by MOCVD are also being considered for photovoltaic applications. ]... 

One of the most important phenomena in material science is the reinforcement of mbber by rigid entities, such as carbon black, clays, silicates, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, MH, and metal oxide [45 7]. Thus, these fillers or reinforcement aids are added to mbber formulations to optimize properties that meet a given service application or sets of performance parameters [48-53]. Although the original purpose is to lower the cost of the molding compounds, prime importance is now attached to the selective active fillers and their quantity that produce specific improvements in mbber physical properties. 

The Arrhenius definition is not suitable for AB cements for several reasons. It cannot be applied to zinc oxide eugenol cements, for these are non-aqueous, nor to the metal oxychloride and oxysulphate cements, where the acid component is not a protonic acid. Indeed, the theory is, strictly speaking, not applicable at all to AB cements where the base is not a water-soluble hydroxide but either an insoluble oxide or a silicate. 

We should point out that up to now we have considered only polycrystals characterized by an a priori surface area depleted in principal charge carriers. For instance, chemisorption of acceptor particles which is accompanied by transition-free electrons from conductivity band to adsorption induced SS is described in this case in terms of the theory of depleted layer [31]. This model is applicable fairly well to describe properties of zinc oxide which is oxidized in air and is characterized by the content of surface adjacent layers which is close to the stoichiometric one [30]. 

Our comments on adsorption of oxygen and nitrogen atoms lead to conclusion that practically under all conditions the initial rate of variation of conductivity of zinc oxide film due to adsorption of acceptor particles discussed in this section is proportional to the concentration of particles in the space adjacent to the surface of oxide film. This is similar to the case of donor particles. This means that the following equation is applicable ... 

In this Section, we consider examples of application of semiconductor sensors in investigation of heterogeneous catalytic reactions of dehydration of isopropyl alcohol and dissociation of hydrosine on zinc oxide. 

This review has been concerned largely with interactions and reactions of unsaturated hydrocarbons with zinc oxide. The picture of the active site as a metal oxide pair capable of heterolytic fission of an acidic C—H bond provides a consistent framework for discussion of these results. We believe this view may be generally applicable. In its application, however, we must keep in mind that zinc oxide may be much more effective for heterolytic cleavage (i.e., more basic) than oxides such as, say, alumina.4... 

Another advantage cited for organic electronics is their perceived low environmental impact and high expected consumer safety. This assumption is generally based on the notion that plastics are easily recycled and are considered safe to humans and animals. However, the materials used are often completely new compositions with poorly understood health and safety attributes. The assumption that all plastics are completely safe for humans is inaccurate, as is exemplified by recent concerns about the toxicity of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).39 In contrast, most inorganic nanoparticle materials are already on the consumer market and have extensive historical data on their safety in a variety of applications. Some materials, such as zinc oxide, are even considered reasonably safe for ingestion and therefore are commonly used in food and cosmetics. However, the health effects and interactions of nanoparticles on the human body are still a topic of debate.40... 

Polycrystalline GaN UV detectors have been realized with 15% quantum efficiency [4], This is about 1 /4 of the quantum efficiency obtained by crystalline devices. Available at a fixed price, however, their increased detection range may well compensate their lack in sensitivity. Furthermore, new semiconductor materials with a matching band gap appear as promising candidates for UV detection if the presumption of the crystallinity is given up. Titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide and zinc oxide have to be mentioned. The opto-electronic properties and also low-cost production processes for these compound semiconductors have already been investigated to some extent for solar cell applications [5]. 

The initial research work on oxide zinc flotation dates back to the 1930s at the University of Liege, Belgium [7]. This research work was based on the earned experience of flotation of oxide copper ores. Fatty acids, which are good collectors for copper carbonates, were not applicable because the gangue minerals in the zinc oxide ores were also floatable in the presence of fatty acids. 

These ore types are abundant in Northern Canada and Mexico. Extensive research work was carried out on these ores with the objective of developing a treatment process for commercial application. One of the major tasks in the development testwork was to use a non-cyanide flotation method in the sulphide flotation. Typical reagent schemes used in beneficiation of the mixed lead zinc oxide sulphide ores are shown in Table 20.5. 

Other materials such as gold (< = 4.9 eV), aluminum (< = 4.2 eV), indium-doped zinc oxide, magnesium indium oxide, nickel tungsten oxide, or other transparent conductive oxide materials, have been studied as anodes in OLEDs. Furthermore, the WF of ITO can be varied by surface treatments such as application of a very thin layer of Au, Pt, Pd, or C, acid or base treatments, self-assembly of active surface molecules, or plasma treatment. 

Pastes are also semisolid preparations intended for external application to the skin, and differ from ointments and creams in that they contain a high solid content. Pastes are made stiff by the addition of powders such as starch, zinc oxide, calcium carbonate or their mixtures. 

Despite of 150-year s history of vulcanization process, it is impossible to consider that fundamental and applied researches in direction of vulcanization systems perfection are completed. For today one of the ways of rubbers properties improvement is the synthesis and application of the new chemicals-additives, including, vulcanization active, that is connected, first of all, with reduction of global stocks of zinc ores as basic raw material for reception of traditional activator - zinc oxide. Besides, modem increase of industrial potential and the accumulation of big quantity wastes derivate the problems of ecological character, which require the emergency decision. Therefore creation of resourcesaving technologies of the new compounds reception from products of secondary raw material processing has paramount importance. 

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