ZnOn

ZnOn is not a standard chemical formula in mainstream chemistry. In most contexts, the material commonly referred to is zinc oxide, ZnO. The symbol ZnOn may appear as a typographical variant or as an abbreviation in some texts for different zinc-containing materials, such as zinc oxynitride (ZnON) or zinc oxide nanostructures (often described as ZnO or ZnO_n).

Zinc oxynitride (ZnON) is a ternary compound in which nitrogen partially or fully substitutes for oxygen in zinc oxide lattices. It is studied for semiconducting and optical properties and can be produced by sputtering, ammonia nitridation, or other deposition methods. ZnON films often exhibit wide bandgaps with tunable absorption and are explored as transparent conductive oxides or photocatalysts.

Zinc oxide nanostructures (ZnO nanostructures) refer to nanoscale forms of ZnO, such as nanoparticles, nanorods, nanotubes, and nanowires. Their properties include large surface area, high exciton binding energy, and sensitivity to light and gases. They find roles in sensors, photodetectors, light-emitting devices, photocatalysis, and antibacterial surfaces.

Nonstoichiometric ZnO refers to zinc oxide with defects, such as oxygen vacancies or zinc interstitials, leading to n-type conductivity and altered optical properties. Synthesis conditions, such as oxygen partial pressure and temperature, influence defect concentrations and material performance.

Because ZnOn is not unambiguous, it is important to specify the intended material and composition when encountered in literature. Clarification may refer to ZnO, ZnON, or ZnO_n-based nanostructures.