Zinc oxide#Pigment

Early humans probably used zinc compounds in processed and unprocessed forms, as paint or medicinal ointment; however, their composition is uncertain. The use of pushpanjan, probably zinc oxide, as a salve for eyes and open wounds is mentioned in the Indian medical text the Charaka Samhita, thought to date from 500 BC or before.{{cite book |title=2000 years of zinc and brass |vauthors=Craddock PT |publisher=British Museum |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-86159-124-4 |page=27 |chapter=Zinc in India}} Zinc oxide ointment is also mentioned by the Greek physician Dioscorides (1st century AD).{{cite book |title=The Oxford Handbook of Engineering and Technology in the Classical World |vauthors=Craddock PT |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-19-518731-1 |editor-last=Oleson |editor-first=John Peter |editor-link=John Peter Oleson |pages=111–112 |chapter=Mining and Metallurgy, chapter 4 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OPOdZaIElRkC&pg=PA111 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Galen suggested treating ulcerating cancers with zinc oxide,{{cite book |last1=Winchester |first1=David J. |title=Breast Cancer (Atlas of Clinical Oncology) |last2=Winchester |first2=David P. |last3=Hudis |first3=Clifford A. |last4=Norton |first4=Larry |publisher=PMPH USA |year=2005 |isbn=978-1550092721 |page=3 |name-list-style=vanc}} as did Avicenna in his The Canon of Medicine. It is used as an ingredient in products such as baby powder and creams against diaper rashes, calamine cream, anti-dandruff shampoos, and antiseptic ointments.{{Cite book |last=Harding |first=Fred John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0h2gDLv3MOEC&pg=PT83 |title=Breast Cancer: Cause – Prevention – Cure |publisher=Tekline Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-9554221-0-2 |page=83 |name-list-style=vanc}}

The Romans produced considerable quantities of brass (an alloy of zinc and copper) as early as 200 BC by a cementation process where copper was reacted with zinc oxide.{{cite book |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/657264/zinc |title=Encyclopædia Britannica |date=10 March 2009 |chapter=Zinc}} The zinc oxide is thought to have been produced by heating zinc ore in a shaft furnace. This liberated metallic zinc as a vapor, which then ascended the flue and condensed as the oxide. This process was described by Dioscorides in the 1st century AD.{{cite journal |last1=Craddock |first1=Paul Terence |name-list-style=vanc |year=2009 |title=The origins and inspirations of zinc smelting |journal=Journal of Materials Science |volume=44 |issue=9 |pages=2181–2191 |bibcode=2009JMatS..44.2181C |doi=10.1007/s10853-008-2942-1 |s2cid=135523239}} Zinc oxide has also been recovered from zinc mines at Zawar in India, dating from the second half of the first millennium BC.

From the 12th to the 16th century, zinc and zinc oxide were recognized and produced in India using a primitive form of the direct synthesis process. From India, zinc manufacturing moved to China in the 17th century. In 1743, the first European zinc smelter was established in Bristol, United Kingdom.[http://chinese-school.netfirms.com/Zinc-information.html General Information of Zinc from the National Institute of Health, WHO, and International Zinc Association]. Retrieved 10 March 2009 Around 1782, Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau proposed replacing lead white pigment with zinc oxide.{{Cite web |title=Zinc White |url=https://www.matisse.com.au/zinc-white |access-date=2020-12-18 |archive-date=2021-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402000548/https://www.matisse.com.au/zinc-white |url-status=dead }}

The main usage of zinc oxide (zinc white) was in paints and as an additive to ointments. Zinc white was accepted as a pigment in oil paintings by 1834 but it did not mix well with oil. This problem was solved by optimizing the synthesis of ZnO. In 1845, Edme-Jean Leclaire in Paris was producing the oil paint on a large scale; by 1850, zinc white was being manufactured throughout Europe. The success of zinc white paint was due to its advantages over the traditional white lead: zinc white is essentially permanent in sunlight, it is not blackened by sulfur-bearing air, it is non-toxic and more economical. Because zinc white is so "clean" it is valuable for making tints with other colors, but it makes a rather brittle dry film when unmixed with other colors. For example, during the late 1890s and early 1900s, some artists used zinc white as a ground for their oil paintings. These paintings developed cracks over time.{{cite web |title=Zinc white: History of use |url=http://www.webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/history/zincwhite.html |work=Pigments through the ages |publisher=webexhibits.org}}

In recent times, most zinc oxide has been used in the rubber industry to resist corrosion. In the 1970s, the second largest application of ZnO was photocopying. High-quality ZnO produced by the "French process" was added to photocopying paper as a filler. This application was soon displaced by titanium.

Pure ZnO is a white powder. However, in nature, it occurs as the rare mineral zincite, which usually contains manganese and other impurities that confer a yellow to red color.{{cite journal | vauthors = Klingshirn C |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=ZnO%3A+Material%2C+Physics+and+Applications&btnG= | title = ZnO: material, physics and applications | journal = ChemPhysChem | volume = 8 | issue = 6 | pages = 782–803 | date = April 2007 | pmid = 17429819 | doi = 10.1002/cphc.200700002 }}

Crystalline zinc oxide is thermochromic, changing from white to yellow when heated in air and reverting to white on cooling.{{cite book| vauthors = Wiberg E, Holleman AF |year=2001|title=Inorganic Chemistry|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-0-12-352651-9}} This color change is caused by a small loss of oxygen to the environment at high temperatures to form the non-stoichiometric Zn_1+xO, where at 800 °C, x = 0.00007.

Zinc oxide is an amphoteric oxide. It is nearly insoluble in water, but it will dissolve in most acids, such as hydrochloric acid:{{Greenwood&Earnshaw2nd|name-list-style = vanc |pages=1201—26}}

:ZnO + 2 HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂O

Solid zinc oxide will also dissolve in alkalis to give soluble zincates:

:ZnO + 2 NaOH + H₂O → Na₂[Zn(OH)₄]

ZnO reacts slowly with fatty acids in oils to produce the corresponding carboxylates, such as oleate or stearate. When mixed with a strong aqueous solution of zinc chloride, ZnO forms cement-like products best described as zinc hydroxy chlorides.{{cite journal|doi=10.1023/A:1004327018497|title=The chemistry of cements formed between zinc oxide and aqueous zinc chloride|year=1998| vauthors = Nicholson JW |journal=Journal of Materials Science|volume=33|pages=2251–2254 |issue=9|bibcode = 1998JMatS..33.2251N |s2cid=94700819}} This cement was used in dentistry.{{cite book|vauthors=Ferracane JL|title=Materials in Dentistry: Principles and Applications|year=2001|publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins|isbn=978-0-7817-2733-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5uvuvNKpIkQC&pg=PA143|pages=70, 143}}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

File:Hopeite.jpg

ZnO also forms cement-like material when treated with phosphoric acid; related materials are used in dentistry. A major component of zinc phosphate cement produced by this reaction is hopeite, Zn₃(PO₄)₂·4H₂O.{{cite journal|title=Setting reaction and resultant structure of zinc phosphate cement in various orthophosphoric acid cement-forming liquids| vauthors = Park CK, Silsbee MR, Roy DM |journal=Cement and Concrete Research|year=1998|volume=28|issue=1|pages=141–150|doi=10.1016/S0008-8846(97)00223-8}}

ZnO decomposes into zinc vapor and oxygen at around 1975 °C with a standard oxygen pressure. In a carbothermic reaction, heating with carbon converts the oxide into zinc vapor at a much lower temperature (around 950 °C).

:ZnO + C → Zn_(Vapor) + CO

File:Wurtzite polyhedra.png

Image:Sphalerite-unit-cell-depth-fade-3D-balls.png

Zinc oxide crystallizes in two main forms, hexagonal wurtzite{{cite book| vauthors = Fierro JL |title=Metal Oxides: Chemistry & Applications|year=2006|publisher=CRC Press|page= 182|isbn=978-0824723712}} and cubic zincblende. The wurtzite structure is most stable at ambient conditions and thus most common. The zincblende form can be stabilized by growing ZnO on substrates with cubic lattice structure. In both cases, the zinc and oxide centers are tetrahedral, the most characteristic geometry for Zn(II). ZnO converts to the rocksalt motif at relatively high pressures about 10 GPa.

Hexagonal{{Cite journal |last1=Milošević |first1=Ivanka |last2=Stevanović |first2=Vladan |last3=Tronc |first3=Pierre |last4=Damnjanović |first4=Milan |date=2006-02-15 |title=Symmetry of zinc oxide nanostructures |url=https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0953-8984/18/6/010 |journal=Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter |volume=18 |issue=6 |pages=1939–1953 |doi=10.1088/0953-8984/18/6/010 |pmid=21697567 |bibcode=2006JPCM...18.1939M |issn=0953-8984}} and zincblende polymorphs have no inversion symmetry (reflection of a crystal relative to any given point does not transform it into itself).{{Cite book |last1=Phillips |first1=J. C. |title=Bonds and bands in semiconductors |last2=Lucovsky |first2=G. |date=2009 |publisher=Momentum Press |isbn=978-1-60650-133-7 |edition=2nd |location=New York, NY |chapter=7. Fundamental Optical Spectra}} This and other lattice symmetry properties result in piezoelectricity of the hexagonal and zincblende ZnO, and pyroelectricity of hexagonal ZnO.{{Cite book |last1=Bain |first1=Ashim Kumar |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9783527839742 |title=Pyroelectric Materials: Physics and Applications |last2=Chand |first2=Prem |date=2022-11-21 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-3-527-35101-5 |edition=1st |pages=35 |language=en |doi=10.1002/9783527839742}}

The hexagonal structure has a point group 6 mm (Hermann–Mauguin notation) or C_6v (Schoenflies notation), and the space group is P6₃mc or C_6v⁴. The lattice constants are a = 3.25 Å and c = 5.2 Å; their ratio c/a ~ 1.60 is close to the ideal value for hexagonal cell c/a = 1.633.{{cite book|title=Landolt-Bornstein, New Series, Group III|volume=17B, 22, 41B| veditors = Rossler U |publisher=Springer, Heidelberg|year=1999}} As in most group II-VI materials, the bonding in ZnO is largely ionic (Zn²⁺O²⁻) with the corresponding radii of 0.074 nm for Zn²⁺ and 0.140 nm for O²⁻. This property accounts for the preferential formation of wurtzite rather than zinc blende structure,{{cite book| vauthors = Klingshirn CF, Waag A, Hoffmann A, Geurts J |title=Zinc Oxide: From Fundamental Properties Towards Novel Applications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TYXinw6pKk4C&pg=PA9|date=2010|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-642-10576-0|pages=9–10}} as well as the strong piezoelectricity of ZnO. Because of the polar Zn−O bonds, zinc and oxygen planes are electrically charged. To maintain electrical neutrality, those planes reconstruct at atomic level in most relative materials, but not in ZnO – its surfaces are atomically flat, stable and exhibit no reconstruction.{{cite journal | vauthors = Baruah S, Dutta J | title = Hydrothermal growth of ZnO nanostructures | journal = Science and Technology of Advanced Materials | volume = 10 | issue = 1 | pages = 013001 | date = February 2009 | pmid = 27877250 | pmc = 5109597 | doi = 10.1088/1468-6996/10/1/013001 | bibcode = 2009STAdM..10a3001B }} However, studies using wurtzoid structures explained the origin of surface flatness and the absence of reconstruction at ZnO wurtzite surfaces{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.spmi.2015.07.015|title=Capped ZnO (3, 0) nanotubes as building blocks of bare and H passivated wurtzite ZnO nanocrystals|journal=Superlattices and Microstructures|volume=85|pages=813–819|year=2015|last1=Abdulsattar|first1=Mudar Ahmed | name-list-style = vanc |bibcode=2015SuMi...85..813A}} in addition to the origin of charges on ZnO planes.

ZnO is a wide-band gap semiconductor of the II-VI semiconductor group. The native doping of the semiconductor due to oxygen vacancies or zinc interstitials is n-type.

ZnO is a relatively soft material with approximate hardness of 4.5 on the Mohs scale.{{cite journal | vauthors = Battez AH, González R, Viesca JL, Fernández JE, Fernández JD, Machado A, Chou R, Riba J |doi=10.1016/j.wear.2007.11.013|title=CuO, ZrO2 and ZnO nanoparticles as antiwear additive in oil lubricants|year=2008 |journal=Wear|volume=265|pages=422–428 |issue=3–4}} Its elastic constants are smaller than those of relevant III-V semiconductors, such as GaN. The high heat capacity and heat conductivity, low thermal expansion and high melting temperature of ZnO are beneficial for ceramics. The E2 optical phonon in ZnO exhibits an unusually long lifetime of 133 ps at 10 K.{{Cite journal | vauthors = Millot M, Tena-Zaera R, Munoz-Sanjose V, Broto JM, Gonzalez J | title = Anharmonic effects in ZnO optical phonons probed by Raman spectroscopy | doi = 10.1063/1.3387843 | journal = Applied Physics Letters | volume = 96 | issue = 15 | page = 152103 | year = 2010 |bibcode = 2010ApPhL..96o2103M | hdl = 10902/23620 | hdl-access = free }}

Among the tetrahedrally bonded semiconductors, it has been stated that ZnO has the highest piezoelectric tensor, or at least one comparable to that of GaN and AlN.{{cite journal | vauthors = Posternak M, Resta R, Baldereschi A | title = Ab initio study of piezoelectricity and spontaneous polarization in ZnO | journal = Physical Review B | volume = 50 | issue = 15 | pages = 10715–10721 | date = October 1994 | pmid = 9975171 | doi = 10.1103/PhysRevB.50.10715 | bibcode = 1994PhRvB..5010715D }} This property makes it a technologically important material for many piezoelectrical applications, which require a large electromechanical coupling. Therefore, ZnO in the form of thin film has been one of the most studied and used resonator materials for thin-film bulk acoustic resonators.{{Cite journal |last1=Voleišis |first1=A. |last2=Kažys |first2=R. |last3=Voleišienė |first3=B. |last4=Šliteris |first4=R. |date=2011 |title=Simultaneous generation of longitudinal and shear ultrasonic waves: knowledge summary, PZT piezoelements manufacturing and experiments |url=https://www.ndt.net/article/ultragarsas/Vol.66-No.1-2011_04-Voleisis.pdf |journal=Ultragarsas (Ultrasound) |volume=66 |issue=1 |doi=10.5755/j01.u.66.1.263 |issn=1392-2114}}

Favourable properties of zinc oxide include good transparency, high electron mobility, wide band gap, and strong room-temperature luminescence. Those properties make ZnO valuable for a variety of emerging applications: transparent electrodes in liquid crystal displays, energy-saving or heat-protecting windows, and electronics as thin-film transistors and light-emitting diodes.{{Citation |last1=Perrière |first1=Jacques |title=ZnO and ZnO-Related Compounds |date=2006-11-17 |work=Pulsed Laser Deposition of Thin Films |pages=261–289 |editor-last=Eason |editor-first=Robert |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470052129.ch12 |access-date=2024-10-27 |edition=1 |publisher=Wiley |language=en |doi=10.1002/9780470052129.ch12 |isbn=978-0-471-44709-2 |last2=Millon |first2=Eric |last3=Craciun |first3=Valentin}}

ZnO has a relatively wide direct band gap of ~3.3 eV at room temperature. Advantages associated with a wide band gap include higher breakdown voltages, ability to sustain large electric fields, lower electronic noise, and high-temperature and high-power operation. The band gap of ZnO can further be tuned to ~3–4 eV by its alloying with magnesium oxide or cadmium oxide. Due to this large band gap, there have been efforts to create visibly transparent solar cells utilising ZnO as a light absorbing layer. However, these solar cells have so far proven highly inefficient.{{cite journal |doi=10.7567/1347-4065/ab532a |title=Fabrication of ZnO/NiO transparent solar cells by electrochemical deposition |date=2019 |last1=Koyama |first1=Miki |last2=Ichimura |first2=Masaya |journal=Japanese Journal of Applied Physics |volume=58 |issue=12 |bibcode=2019JaJAP..58l8003K |s2cid=209935734 }}

Most ZnO has n-type character, even in the absence of intentional doping. Nonstoichiometry is typically the origin of n-type character, but the subject remains controversial.{{cite journal | vauthors = Look DC, Hemsky JW, Sizelove JR | year = 1999 | title = Residual Native Shallow Donor in ZnO | journal = Physical Review Letters | volume = 82 | pages = 2552–2555 | doi = 10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.2552 | bibcode = 1999PhRvL..82.2552L | issue = 12 | s2cid = 53476471 | url = https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/physics/216 }} An alternative explanation has been proposed, based on theoretical calculations, that unintentional substitutional hydrogen impurities are responsible.{{cite journal | vauthors = Janotti A, Van de Walle CG | title = Hydrogen multicentre bonds | journal = Nature Materials | volume = 6 | issue = 1 | pages = 44–7 | date = January 2007 | pmid = 17143265 | doi = 10.1038/nmat1795 | bibcode = 2007NatMa...6...44J }} Controllable n-type doping is easily achieved by substituting Zn with group-III elements such as Al, Ga, In or by substituting oxygen with group-VII elements chlorine or iodine.{{cite journal | vauthors = Kato H, Sano M, Miyamoto K, Yao T |doi=10.1016/S0022-0248(01)01972-8|title=Growth and characterization of Ga-doped ZnO layers on a-plane sapphire substrates grown by molecular beam epitaxy|year=2002 |journal=Journal of Crystal Growth|volume=237–239|pages=538–543|bibcode=2002JCrGr.237..538K |doi-access=free}}

Reliable p-type doping of ZnO remains difficult. This problem originates from low solubility of p-type dopants and their compensation by abundant n-type impurities. This problem is observed with GaN and ZnSe. Measurement of p-type in "intrinsically" n-type material is complicated by the inhomogeneity of samples.{{cite journal | vauthors = Ohgaki T, Ohashi N, Sugimura S, Ryoken H, Sakaguchi I, Adachi Y, Haneda H |doi=10.1557/JMR.2008.0300|title=Positive Hall coefficients obtained from contact misplacement on evident n-type ZnO films and crystals|year=2008 |journal=Journal of Materials Research|volume=23|pages=2293–2295 |issue=9|bibcode = 2008JMatR..23.2293O |s2cid=137944281 }}

Current limitations to p-doping limit electronic and optoelectronic applications of ZnO, which usually require junctions of n-type and p-type material. Known p-type dopants include group-I elements Li, Na, K; group-V elements N, P and As; as well as copper and silver. However, many of these form deep acceptors and do not produce significant p-type conduction at room temperature.

Electron mobility of ZnO strongly varies with temperature and has a maximum of ~2000 cm²/(V·s) at 80 K.{{cite journal | vauthors = Wagner P, Helbig R |doi=10.1016/S0022-3697(74)80026-0|title=Halleffekt und anisotropie der beweglichkeit der elektronen in ZnO|year=1974 |journal=Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids|volume=35|pages=327–335 |bibcode=1974JPCS...35..327W|issue=3}} Data on hole mobility are scarce with values in the range 5–30 cm²/(V·s).{{cite journal | vauthors = Ryu YR, Lee TS, White HW |doi=10.1063/1.1590423|title=Properties of arsenic-doped p-type ZnO grown by hybrid beam deposition|year=2003 |journal=Applied Physics Letters|volume=83|issue=1|page=87 |bibcode = 2003ApPhL..83...87R }}

ZnO discs, acting as a varistor, are the active material in most surge arresters.

René Smeets, Lou van der Sluis, Mirsad Kapetanovic, David F. Peelo, Anton Janssen.

[https://books.google.com/books?id=NVUzBAAAQBAJ "Switching in Electrical Transmission and Distribution Systems"].

2014.

p. 316.

Mukund R. Patel.

[https://books.google.com/books?id=Am5CI32itwAC "Introduction to Electrical Power and Power Electronics"].

2012.

p. 247.

Zinc oxide is noted for its strongly nonlinear optical properties, especially in bulk. The nonlinearity of ZnO nanoparticles can be fine-tuned according to their size.{{cite journal | title = Size-dependent enhancement of nonlinear optical properties in nanocolloids of ZnO | url = http://dyuthi.cusat.ac.in/xmlui/bitstream/purl/2586/1/Dyuthi-P0146.pdf| year = 2008 | journal = Journal of Applied Physics | pages = 033105–033105–7 | volume = 103 | vauthors = Irimpan L, Krishnan Deepthy BA, ((Nampoori VPN)), Radhakrishnan P | doi = 10.1063/1.2838178 |bibcode = 2008JAP...103c3105I | issue = 3 }}

{{See also|Zinc smelting}}

For industrial use, ZnO is produced at levels of 10⁵ tons per year by three main processes:{{cite book| vauthors = Porter F |title=Zinc Handbook: Properties, Processing, and Use in Design|publisher=CRC Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-8247-8340-2}}

In the indirect or French process, metallic zinc is melted in a graphite crucible and vaporized at temperatures above 907 °C (typically around 1000 °C). Zinc vapor reacts with the oxygen in the air to give ZnO, accompanied by a drop in its temperature and bright luminescence. Zinc oxide particles are transported into a cooling duct and collected in a bag house. This indirect method was popularized by Edme Jean LeClaire of Paris in 1844 and therefore is commonly known as the French process. Its product normally consists of agglomerated zinc oxide particles with an average size of 0.1 to a few micrometers. By weight, most of the world's zinc oxide is manufactured via French process.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

The direct or American process starts with diverse contaminated zinc composites, such as zinc ores or smelter by-products. The zinc precursors are reduced (carbothermal reduction) by heating with a source of carbon such as anthracite to produce zinc vapor, which is then oxidized as in the indirect process. Because of the lower purity of the source material, the final product is also of lower quality in the direct process as compared to the indirect one.{{cite book| vauthors = Porter F |title=Zinc Handbook: Properties, Processing, and Use in Design|publisher=CRC Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-8247-8340-2|page=75}}

A small amount of industrial production involves wet chemical processes, which start with aqueous solutions of zinc salts, from which zinc carbonate or zinc hydroxide is precipitated. The solid precipitate is then calcined at temperatures around 800 °C.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

File:Synthetic Zincite Crystals.jpg

Numerous specialised methods exist for producing ZnO for scientific studies and niche applications. These methods can be classified by the resulting ZnO form (bulk, thin film, nanowire), temperature ("low", that is close to room temperature or "high", that is T ~ 1000 °C), process type (vapor deposition or growth from solution) and other parameters.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

Large single crystals (many cubic centimeters) can be grown by the gas transport (vapor-phase deposition), hydrothermal synthesis,{{cite journal | vauthors = Schulz D, Ganschow S, Klimm D, Struve K |journal = Journal of Crystal Growth|volume = 310|year =2008|pages= 1832–1835|title = Inductively heated Bridgman method for the growth of zinc oxide single crystals |doi = 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2007.11.050|issue = 7–9|bibcode = 2008JCrGr.310.1832S }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Baruah S, Thanachayanont C, Dutta J | title = Growth of ZnO nanowires on nonwoven polyethylene fibers | journal = Science and Technology of Advanced Materials | volume = 9 | issue = 2 | pages = 025009 | date = April 2008 | pmid = 27877984 | pmc = 5099741 | doi = 10.1088/1468-6996/9/2/025009 | bibcode = 2008STAdM...9b5009B }} or melt growth.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j_HEazhVxoMC&pg=PA357|page=357|title=Wide bandgap semiconductors: fundamental properties and modern photonic and electronic devices| last1 = Takahashi | first1 = Kiyoshi | last2 = Yoshikawa | first2 = Akihiko | last3 = Sandhu | first3 = Adarsh | name-list-style = vanc |publisher=Springer|year=2007|isbn=978-3-540-47234-6}} However, because of the high vapor pressure of ZnO, growth from the melt is problematic. Growth by gas transport is difficult to control, leaving the hydrothermal method as a preference. Thin films can be produced by a variety of methods including chemical vapor deposition,{{Cite journal |last1=Laurenti |first1=Marco |last2=Cauda |first2=Valentina |date=2018-02-09 |title=Porous Zinc Oxide Thin Films: Synthesis Approaches and Applications |journal=Coatings |language=en |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=67 |doi=10.3390/coatings8020067 |doi-access=free |issn=2079-6412}} metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy, electrodeposition, sputtering, spray pyrolysis, thermal oxidation,{{Cite journal |last1=Mahalingam |first1=T. |last2=John |first2=V.S. |last3=Raja |first3=M. |last4=Su |first4=Y.K. |last5=Sebastian |first5=P.J. |date=July 2005 |title=Electrodeposition and characterization of transparent ZnO thin films |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0927024804004799 |journal=Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells |language=en |volume=88 |issue=2 |pages=227–235 |doi=10.1016/j.solmat.2004.06.021|bibcode=2005SEMSC..88..227M }} sol–gel synthesis, atomic layer deposition, and pulsed laser deposition.{{Cite journal |last1=Amudhavalli |first1=B. |last2=Mariappan |first2=R. |last3=Prasath |first3=M. |date=December 2022 |title=Synthesis chemical methods for deposition of ZnO, CdO and CdZnO thin films to facilitate further research |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0925838822029024 |journal=Journal of Alloys and Compounds |language=en |volume=925 |pages=166511 |doi=10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.166511}}

Zinc oxide can be produced in bulk by precipitation from zinc compounds, mainly zinc acetate, in various solutions, such as aqueous sodium hydroxide or aqueous ammonium carbonate.{{Cite journal |last1=Nistor |first1=S. V. |last2=Stefan |first2=M. |last3=Ghica |first3=D. |date=November 2014 |title=Pulse annealing electron paramagnetic resonance with probing transition ions: Application to thermal formation and growth of nanoZnO |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10973-014-3743-1 |journal=Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry |language=en |volume=118 |issue=2 |pages=1021–1031 |doi=10.1007/s10973-014-3743-1 |issn=1388-6150}} Synthetic methods characterized in literature since the year 2000 aim to produce ZnO particles with high surface area and minimal size distribution, including precipitation, mechanochemical, sol-gel, microwave, and emulsion methods.{{Cite journal |last1=Kołodziejczak-Radzimska |first1=Agnieszka |last2=Jesionowski |first2=Teofil |date=2014-04-09 |title=Zinc Oxide—From Synthesis to Application: A Review |journal=Materials |language=en |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=2833–2881 |doi=10.3390/ma7042833 |doi-access=free |pmc=5453364 |pmid=28788596|bibcode=2014Mate....7.2833K }}

Nanostructures of ZnO can be synthesized into a variety of morphologies, including nanowires, nanorods, tetrapods, nanobelts, nanoflowers, nanoparticles, etc. Nanostructures can be obtained with most above-mentioned techniques, at certain conditions, and also with the vapor–liquid–solid method.{{cite journal | vauthors = Miao L, Ieda Y, Tanemura S, Cao YG, Tanemura M, Hayashi Y, Toh S, Kaneko K |doi=10.1016/j.stam.2007.02.012 |title=Synthesis, microstructure and photoluminescence of well-aligned ZnO nanorods on Si substrate|year=2007 |journal=Science and Technology of Advanced Materials|volume=8|pages=443–447 |issue=6|bibcode = 2007STAdM...8..443M |doi-access=free}}{{cite journal|author2-link=Zhong Lin Wang|vauthors = Xu S, Wang ZL |journal=Nano Res.|volume=4|year=2011|pages=1013–1098|title=One-dimensional ZnO nanostructures: Solution growth and functional properties|doi=10.1007/s12274-011-0160-7|issue=11|citeseerx=10.1.1.654.3359 |s2cid=137014543}} The synthesis is typically carried out at temperatures of about 90 °C, in an equimolar aqueous solution of zinc nitrate and hexamine, the latter providing the basic environment. Certain additives, such as polyethylene glycol or polyethylenimine, can improve the aspect ratio of the ZnO nanowires.{{cite journal | vauthors = Zhou Y, Wu W, Hu G, Wu H, Cui S |journal=Materials Research Bulletin|volume=43|year=2008|pages= 2113–2118|title=Hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanorod arrays with the addition of polyethyleneimine|doi=10.1016/j.materresbull.2007.09.024|issue=8–9 }} Doping of the ZnO nanowires has been achieved by adding other metal nitrates to the growth solution.{{cite journal | vauthors = Cui J, Zeng Q, Gibson UJ | title=Synthesis and magnetic properties of Co-doped ZnO nanowires | journal=Journal of Applied Physics | volume=99 | issue=8 | date=2006-04-15 | doi=10.1063/1.2169411 | page=08M113 |bibcode = 2006JAP....99hM113C }} The morphology of the resulting nanostructures can be tuned by changing the parameters relating to the precursor composition (such as the zinc concentration and pH) or to the thermal treatment (such as the temperature and heating rate).{{cite journal | vauthors = Elen K, Van den Rul H, Hardy A, Van Bael MK, D'Haen J, Peeters R, Franco D, Mullens J | display-authors = 6 | title = Hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanorods: a statistical determination of the significant parameters in view of reducing the diameter | journal = Nanotechnology | volume = 20 | issue = 5 | pages = 055608 | date = February 2009 | pmid = 19417355 | doi = 10.1088/0957-4484/20/5/055608 | bibcode = 2009Nanot..20e5608E | s2cid = 206056816 }}

Aligned ZnO nanowires on pre-seeded silicon, glass, and gallium nitride substrates have been grown using aqueous zinc salts such as zinc nitrate and zinc acetate in basic environments.{{cite journal | vauthors = Greene LE, Law M, Goldberger J, Kim F, Johnson JC, Zhang Y, Saykally RJ, Yang P | display-authors = 6 | title = Low-temperature wafer-scale production of ZnO nanowire arrays | journal = Angewandte Chemie | volume = 42 | issue = 26 | pages = 3031–4 | date = July 2003 | pmid = 12851963 | doi = 10.1002/anie.200351461 }} Pre-seeding substrates with ZnO creates sites for homogeneous nucleation of ZnO crystal during the synthesis. Common pre-seeding methods include in-situ thermal decomposition of zinc acetate crystallites, spin coating of ZnO nanoparticles, and the use of physical vapor deposition methods to deposit ZnO thin films.{{cite journal| last = Wu | first = Wan-Yu | name-list-style = vanc |journal= Journal of the American Ceramic Society|volume=92|issue=11|pages=2718–2723|title=Effects of Seed Layer Characteristics on the Synthesis of ZnO Nanowires|doi=10.1111/j.1551-2916.2009.03022.x|year=2009 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Greene LE, Law M, Tan DH, Montano M, Goldberger J, Somorjai G, Yang P | title = General route to vertical ZnO nanowire arrays using textured ZnO seeds | journal = Nano Letters | volume = 5 | issue = 7 | pages = 1231–6 | date = July 2005 | pmid = 16178216 | doi = 10.1021/nl050788p | bibcode = 2005NanoL...5.1231G }} Pre-seeding can be performed in conjunction with top down patterning methods such as electron beam lithography and nanosphere lithography to designate nucleation sites prior to growth. Aligned ZnO nanowires can be used in dye-sensitized solar cells and field emission devices.{{cite journal| last = Hua | first = Guomin | name-list-style = vanc |journal=Materials Letters|volume= 62|year=2008|pages=4109–4111|title=Fabrication of ZnO nanowire arrays by cycle growth in surfactantless aqueous solution and their applications on dye-sensitized solar cells|doi=10.1016/j.matlet.2008.06.018|issue=25 | bibcode = 2008MatL...62.4109H }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Lee JH, Chung YW, Hon MH, Leu C | title=Density-controlled growth and field emission property of aligned ZnO nanorod arrays | journal=Applied Physics A | volume=97 | issue=2 | date=2009-05-07 | doi=10.1007/s00339-009-5226-y | pages=403–408 | bibcode = 2009ApPhA..97..403L| s2cid=97205678 }}

The applications of zinc oxide powder are numerous, and the principal ones are summarized below. Most applications exploit the reactivity of the oxide as a precursor to other zinc compounds. For material science applications, zinc oxide has high refractive index, high thermal conductivity, binding, antibacterial and UV-protection properties. Consequently, it is added into materials and products including plastics, ceramics, glass, cement,{{cite journal | vauthors = Sanchez-Pescador R, Brown JT, Roberts M, Urdea MS | title = The nucleotide sequence of the tetracycline resistance determinant tetM from Ureaplasma urealyticum | journal = Nucleic Acids Research | volume = 16 | issue = 3 | pages = 1216–7 | date = February 1988 | pmid = 3344217 | pmc = 334766 | doi = 10.1093/nar/16.3.1216 }} rubber, lubricants, paints, ointments, adhesive, sealants, concrete manufacturing, pigments, foods, batteries, ferrites, and fire retardants.Ambica Dhatu Private Limited. [http://ambicaindia.in/products/zinc-oxide-manufacturer/ Applications of ZnO.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219104817/http://ambicaindia.in/products/zinc-oxide-manufacturer/|date=December 19, 2019|title=}} Access date January 25, 2009.

Between 50% and 60% of ZnO use is in the rubber industry.{{cite journal| vauthors = Moezzi A, McDonagh AM, Cortie MB |title=Review: Zinc oxide particles: Synthesis, properties and applications|journal=Chemical Engineering Journal|year=2012|volume=185–186|pages=1–22|doi=10.1016/j.cej.2012.01.076}} Zinc oxide along with stearic acid is used in the sulfur vulcanization of rubber.{{cite book| vauthors = Brown HE |title=Zinc Oxide Rediscovered|publisher=The New Jersey Zinc Company|location=New York|year=1957}} ZnO additives in the form of nanoparticles are used in rubber as a pigment{{Cite journal |last1=Sahoo |first1=Suchismita |last2=Maiti |first2=Madhuchhanda |last3=Ganguly |first3=Anirban |last4=Jacob George |first4=Jinu |last5=Bhowmick |first5=Anil K. |date=2007-08-15 |title=Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles as cure activator on the properties of natural rubber and nitrile rubber |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/app.26296 |journal=Journal of Applied Polymer Science |language=en |volume=105 |issue=4 |pages=2407–2415 |doi=10.1002/app.26296 |issn=0021-8995}} and to enhance its durability,{{Cite journal |last1=Prashanth |first1=G. K. |last2=Dileep |first2=M. S. |last3=Gadewar |first3=Manoj |last4=Ghosh |first4=Mithun Kumar |last5=Rao |first5=Srilatha |last6=Giresha |first6=A. S. |last7=Prashanth |first7=P. A. |last8=Swamy |first8=M. Mahadeva |last9=Yatish |first9=K. V. |last10=Mutthuraju |first10=M. |date=June 2024 |title=Zinc Oxide Nanostructures: Illuminating the Potential in Biomedical Applications: a Brief Overview |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12668-024-01366-4 |journal=BioNanoScience |language=en |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=1876–1896 |doi=10.1007/s12668-024-01366-4 |issn=2191-1630}} and have been used in composite rubber materials such as those based on montmorillonite to impart germicidal properties.{{Cite journal |last1=Archibong |first1=Friday Nwankwo |last2=Orakwe |first2=Louis Chukwuemeka |last3=Ogah |first3=Ogah Anselm |last4=Mbam |first4=Stephen Ogbonna |last5=Ajah |first5=Stephen Aroh |last6=Okechukwu |first6=Michael Emeka |last7=Igberi |first7=Christiana Ogonna |last8=Okafor |first8=Kosisochukwu Jideofor |last9=Chima |first9=Melford Onyemaechi |last10=Ikelle |first10=Ikelle Issie |date=February 2023 |title=Emerging progress in montmorillonite rubber/polymer nanocomposites: a review |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10853-023-08173-4 |journal=Journal of Materials Science |language=en |volume=58 |issue=6 |pages=2396–2429 |doi=10.1007/s10853-023-08173-4 |bibcode=2023JMatS..58.2396A |issn=0022-2461}}

Ceramic industry consumes a significant amount of zinc oxide, in particular in ceramic glaze and frit compositions. The relatively high heat capacity, thermal conductivity and high temperature stability of ZnO coupled with a comparatively low coefficient of expansion are desirable properties in the production of ceramics. ZnO affects the melting point and optical properties of the glazes, enamels, and ceramic formulations. Zinc oxide as a low expansion, secondary flux improves the elasticity of glazes by reducing the change in viscosity as a function of temperature and helps prevent crazing and shivering. By substituting ZnO for BaO and PbO, the heat capacity is decreased and the thermal conductivity is increased. Zinc in small amounts improves the development of glossy and brilliant surfaces. However, in moderate to high amounts, it produces matte and crystalline surfaces. With regard to color, zinc has a complicated influence.

Zinc oxide as a mixture with about 0.5% iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃) is called calamine and is used in calamine lotion, a topical skin treatment.{{cite book |title=Dermatology |vauthors=Braun-Falco O, Plewig G, Wolff HH, Burgdorf W |date=2012 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=9783642979316 |edition=2nd |page=1724 |language=en |chapter=Topical Therapy |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kK_rCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1724 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229170841/https://books.google.ca/books?id=kK_rCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1724 |archive-date=2016-12-29 |url-status=live}} Historically, the name calamine was ascribed to a mineral that contained zinc used in powdered form as medicine,{{cite book |last1=Gough |first1=John Weidhofft |title=The Mines of Mendip |date=1930 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=219–221 |oclc=163035417}} but it was determined in 1803 that ore described as calamine was actually a mixture of the zinc minerals smithsonite and hemimorphite.{{cite book |last=Goode |first=George Brown |url=http://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_sic_462 |title=The Smithsonian Institution, 1846-1896, The History of Its First Half Century |publisher=De Vinne Press |year=1897 |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=12–13}}

Zinc oxide is widely used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, itching due to eczema, diaper rash and acne.{{cite journal |last1=Gupta |first1=Mrinal |last2=Mahajan |first2=Vikram K. |last3=Mehta |first3=Karaninder S. |last4=Chauhan |first4=Pushpinder S. |title=Zinc Therapy in Dermatology: A Review |journal=Dermatology Research and Practice |date=2014 |volume=2014 |page=709152 |doi=10.1155/2014/709152|pmid=25120566 |pmc=4120804 |doi-access=free }} It is used in products such as baby powder and barrier creams to treat diaper rashes, calamine cream, anti-dandruff shampoos, and antiseptic ointments.British National Formulary (2008). [https://web.archive.org/web/20120506044856/http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/formulary/bnf/current/13-skin/132-emollient-and-barrier-preparations/1322-barrier-preparations "Section 13.2.2 Barrier Preparations"]. It is often combined with castor oil to form an emollient and astringent, zinc and castor oil cream, commonly used to treat infants.{{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Cheryll |title=Medicinal Plants in Australia Volume 3: Plants, Potions and Poisons |date=1 July 2012 |publisher=Rosenberg Publishing |isbn=978-1-925078-07-7 |page=309 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ieVUAQAAQBAJ&dq=zinc+and+castor+oil+cream&pg=PA309 |access-date=8 March 2023 |language=en |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420114645/https://books.google.com/books?id=ieVUAQAAQBAJ&dq=zinc+and+castor+oil+cream&pg=PA309 |url-status=dead }}{{cite book |last1=Nathan |first1=Alan |title=Non-prescription Medicines |date=2010 |publisher=Pharmaceutical Press |isbn=978-0-85369-886-9 |page=206 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lW-0IoSYMBYC&dq=zinc+and+castor+oil+cream&pg=PA206 |access-date=8 March 2023 |language=en}}

It is also a component in tape (called "zinc oxide tape") used by athletes as a bandage to prevent soft tissue damage during workouts.{{cite journal | vauthors = Hughes G, McLean NR | title = Zinc oxide tape: a useful dressing for the recalcitrant finger-tip and soft-tissue injury | journal = Archives of Emergency Medicine | volume = 5 | issue = 4 | pages = 223–7 | date = December 1988 | pmid = 3233136 | pmc = 1285538 | doi = 10.1136/emj.5.4.223 }}

Zinc oxide is used in mouthwash products and toothpastes as an anti-bacterial agent proposed to prevent plaque and tartar formation,{{cite journal |last1=Lynch |first1=Richard J.M. |title=Zinc in the mouth, its interactions with dental enamel and possible effects on caries; a review of the literature |journal=International Dental Journal |date=August 2011 |volume=61 |issue=Suppl 3 |pages=46–54 |doi=10.1111/j.1875-595X.2011.00049.x|pmid=21762155 |pmc=9374993 |doi-access=free }} and to control bad breath by reducing the volatile gases and volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) in the mouth.{{cite journal |last1=Cortelli |first1=José Roberto |last2=Barbosa |first2=Mônica Dourado Silva |last3=Westphal |first3=Miriam Ardigó |title=Halitosis: a review of associated factors and therapeutic approach |journal=Brazilian Oral Research |date=August 2008 |volume=22 |issue=suppl 1 |pages=44–54 |doi=10.1590/S1806-83242008000500007|pmid=19838550 |doi-access=free }} Along with zinc oxide or zinc salts, these products also commonly contain other active ingredients, such as cetylpyridinium chloride,{{cite web |title=SmartMouth Clinical DDS Activated Mouthwash |url=https://smartmouth.com/products/clinical-mouthwash/#toggle-id-1 |website=smartmouth.com}} xylitol,{{cite web |title=Oxyfresh |url=https://oxyfresh.com/products/patented-zinc-mouthwash-with-fresh-mint |website=Oxyfresh.com |language=en}} hinokitiol,{{cite web |title=Dr ZinX |url=https://www.drzinx.com/ingredients |website=drzinx.com |language=en |access-date=2021-01-06 |archive-date=2020-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120203948/https://www.drzinx.com/ingredients |url-status=dead }} essential oils and plant extracts.{{cite journal |last1=Steenberghe |first1=Daniel Van |last2=Avontroodt |first2=Pieter |last3=Peeters |first3=Wouter |last4=Pauwels |first4=Martine |last5=Coucke |first5=Wim |last6=Lijnen |first6=An |last7=Quirynen |first7=Marc |title=Effect of Different Mouthrinses on Morning Breath |journal=Journal of Periodontology |date=September 2001 |volume=72 |issue=9 |pages=1183–1191 |doi=10.1902/jop.2000.72.9.1183|pmid=11577950 }}{{cite journal |last1=Harper |first1=D. Scott |last2=Mueller |first2=Laura J. |last3=Fine |first3=James B. |last4=Gordon |first4=Jeffrey |last5=Laster |first5=Larry L. |title=Clinical Efficacy of a Dentifrice and Oral Rinse Containing Sanguinaria Extract and Zinc Chloride During 6 Months of Use |journal=Journal of Periodontology |date=June 1990 |volume=61 |issue=6 |pages=352–358 |doi=10.1902/jop.1990.61.6.352|pmid=2195152 }}

Powdered zinc oxide has deodorizing and antibacterial properties.{{cite journal | vauthors = Padmavathy N, Vijayaraghavan R | title = Enhanced bioactivity of ZnO nanoparticles-an antimicrobial study | journal = Science and Technology of Advanced Materials | volume = 9 | issue = 3 | pages = 035004 | date = July 2008 | pmid = 27878001 | pmc = 5099658 | doi = 10.1088/1468-6996/9/3/035004 | bibcode = 2008STAdM...9c5004P }}

ZnO is added to cotton fabric, rubber, oral care products,{{cite journal | vauthors = ten Cate JM | title = Contemporary perspective on the use of fluoride products in caries prevention | journal = British Dental Journal | volume = 214 | issue = 4 | pages = 161–7 | date = February 2013 | pmid = 23429124 | doi = 10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.162 | doi-access = free }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Rošin-Grget K, Peroš K, Sutej I, Bašić K | title = The cariostatic mechanisms of fluoride | journal = Acta Medica Academica | volume = 42 | issue = 2 | pages = 179–88 | date = November 2013 | pmid = 24308397 | doi = 10.5644/ama2006-124.85 | doi-access = free }} and food packaging.{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/app.24866 |title=Durability of nano ZnO antibacterial cotton fabric to sweat|year=2007| last1 = Li | first1 = Qun |last2=Chen|first2=Shui-Lin|last3=Jiang|first3=Wan-Chao | name-list-style = vanc |journal=Journal of Applied Polymer Science |volume=103 |pages=412–416 }}{{cite journal|doi=10.1177/152808379302300205 |title=Antibacterial, Deodorizing, and UV Absorbing Materials Obtained with Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Coated Fabrics|year=1993| vauthors = Saito M |journal=Journal of Industrial Textiles|volume=23|pages=150–164|issue=2|s2cid=97726945}} Enhanced antibacterial action of fine particles compared to bulk material is not exclusive to ZnO and is observed for other materials, such as silver.{{cite journal | vauthors = Akhavan O, Ghaderi E | title = Enhancement of antibacterial properties of Ag nanorods by electric field | journal = Science and Technology of Advanced Materials | volume = 10 | issue = 1 | pages = 015003 | date = February 2009 | pmid = 27877266 | pmc = 5109610 | doi = 10.1088/1468-6996/10/1/015003 | bibcode = 2009STAdM..10a5003A }} The mechanism of ZnO's antibacterial effect has been variously described as the generation of reactive oxygen species, the release of Zn²⁺ ions, and a general disturbance of the bacterial cell membrane by nanoparticles.{{Cite journal |last1=Sirelkhatim |first1=Amna |last2=Mahmud |first2=Shahrom |last3=Seeni |first3=Azman |last4=Kaus |first4=Noor Haida Mohamad |last5=Ann |first5=Ling Chuo |last6=Bakhori |first6=Siti Khadijah Mohd |last7=Hasan |first7=Habsah |last8=Mohamad |first8=Dasmawati |date=July 2015 |title=Review on Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Antibacterial Activity and Toxicity Mechanism |journal=Nano-Micro Letters |language=en |volume=7 |issue=3 |pages=219–242 |doi=10.1007/s40820-015-0040-x |issn=2311-6706 |pmc=6223899 |pmid=30464967|bibcode=2015NML.....7..219S }}

Zinc oxide is used in sunscreen to absorb ultraviolet light. It is the broadest spectrum UVA and UVB absorber{{cite web|url=https://mycpss.com/skin/sunscreens/critical-wavelength-broad-spectrum-uv-protection/|title=Critical Wavelength & Broad Spectrum UV Protection|website=mycpss.com|access-date=15 April 2018|archive-date=15 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415125050/https://mycpss.com/skin/sunscreens/critical-wavelength-broad-spectrum-uv-protection/|url-status=dead}}{{cite journal | vauthors = More BD | title = Physical sunscreens: on the comeback trail | journal = Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology | volume = 73 | issue = 2 | pages = 80–5 | year = 2007 | pmid = 17456911 | doi = 10.4103/0378-6323.31890 | url = http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?dv07029 | doi-access = free | hdl = 1807/47877 | hdl-access = free }} that is approved for use as a sunscreen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),{{cite news|title=Sunscreen|url=https://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/Tanning/ucm116445.htm|publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration}} and is completely photostable.{{cite journal | vauthors = Mitchnick MA, Fairhurst D, Pinnell SR | title = Microfine zinc oxide (Z-cote) as a photostable UVA/UVB sunblock agent | journal = Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology | volume = 40 | issue = 1 | pages = 85–90 | date = January 1999 | pmid = 9922017 | doi = 10.1016/S0190-9622(99)70532-3 }} When used as an ingredient in sunscreen, zinc oxide blocks both UVA (320–400 nm) and UVB (280–320 nm) rays of ultraviolet light. Zinc oxide and the other most common physical sunscreen, titanium dioxide, are considered to be nonirritating, nonallergenic, and non-comedogenic.{{cite news|url=http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/what-to-look-for-in-a-sunscreen/|date= June 10, 2009|title=What to Look for in a Sunscreen|work=The New York Times}} Zinc from zinc oxide is, however, slightly absorbed into the skin.{{cite journal | vauthors = Agren MS | title = Percutaneous absorption of zinc from zinc oxide applied topically to intact skin in man | journal = Dermatologica | volume = 180 | issue = 1 | pages = 36–9 | year = 2009 | pmid = 2307275 | doi = 10.1159/000247982 }}

Many sunscreens use nanoparticles of zinc oxide (along with nanoparticles of titanium dioxide) because such small particles do not scatter light and therefore do not appear white. The nanoparticles are not absorbed into the skin more than regular-sized zinc oxide particles are{{cite journal|vauthors=Burnett ME, Wang SQ|date=April 2011|title=Current sunscreen controversies: a critical review|journal=Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine|volume=27|issue=2|pages=58–67|doi=10.1111/j.1600-0781.2011.00557.x|pmid=21392107|doi-access=free|s2cid=29173997}} and are only absorbed into the outermost layer of the skin but not into the body.

When mixed with eugenol, zinc oxide eugenol is formed, which has applications as a restorative and prosthodontic in dentistry.{{cite book| last = van Noort | first = Richard | name-list-style = vanc |year=2002|title=Introduction to Dental Materials|edition=2d|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-0-7234-3215-9}}

{{See also|Zinc deficiency|Zinc toxicity}}

Zinc oxide is added to many food products, including breakfast cereals, as a source of zinc, a necessary nutrient. Zinc may be added to food in the form of zinc oxide nanoparticles, or as zinc sulfate, zinc gluconate, zinc acetate, or zinc citrate.{{Cite journal|doi=10.3390/ijms23116074 |title=Food Additive Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Dissolution, Interaction, Fate, Cytotoxicity, and Oral Toxicity |last1=Youn |first1=Su-Min |last2=Choi |first2=Soo-Jin |name-list-style = vanc |journal=International Journal of Molecular Sciences |date=May 2022 |page=6074 |issue=11 |volume=23|doi-access=free |pmid=35682753 |pmc=9181433 }} Some foods also include trace amounts of ZnO even if it is not intended as a nutrient.{{Cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113217 |name-list-style = vanc |first1=Alfina |last1=Grasso |first2=Margherita |last2=Ferrante |first3=Antonio |last3=Moreda-Piñeiro |first4=Giovanni |last4=Arena |first5=Riccardo |last5=Magarini |first6=Gea |last6=Oliveri Conti |first7=Antonio |last7=Cristaldi |first8=Chiara |last8=Copat

|title=Dietary exposure of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) from canned seafood by single particle ICP-MS: Balancing of risks and benefits for human health |journal=Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |volume= 231 |date=2022 |page=113217 |pmid = 35077994 |bibcode = 2022EcoES.23113217G |issn= 0147-6513|doi-access=free }}

{{Main|Zinc white}}

Zinc oxide (zinc white) is used as a pigment in paints and is more opaque than lithopone, but less opaque than titanium dioxide. It is also used in coatings for paper. Chinese white is a special grade of zinc white used in artists' pigments.{{Cite book|title=The Secret Lives of Colour|last=St. Clair|first=Kassia | name-list-style = vanc |publisher=John Murray|year=2016|isbn=9781473630819|location=London|page=40|oclc=936144129}} The use of zinc white as a pigment in oil painting started in the middle of 18th century.Kuhn, H. (1986) "Zinc White", pp. 169–186 in Artists’ Pigments. A Handbook of Their History and Characteristics, Vol. 1. L. Feller (ed.). Cambridge University Press, London. {{ISBN|978-0521303743}} It has partly replaced the poisonous lead white and was used by painters such as Böcklin, Van Gogh,[http://colourlex.com/project/van-gogh-wheatfield-cypresses/ Vincent van Gogh, 'Wheatfield with Cypresses, 1889], pigment analysis at ColourLex Manet, Munch and others. It is also a main ingredient of mineral makeup (CI 77947).{{cite journal| last = Bouchez | first = Colette | name-list-style = vanc |title=The Lowdown on Mineral Makeup|url=http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/features/the-lowdown-on-mineral-makeup|journal =WebMD|access-date= January 25, 2009}}

Micronized and nano-scale zinc oxide provides strong protection against UVA and UVB ultraviolet radiation, and are consequently used in sunscreens,[http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/doc/sunscreen.pdf US Environment Protection Agency: Sunscreen] What are the active Ingredients in Sunscreen – Physical Ingredients:"The physical compounds titanium dioxide and zinc oxide reflect, scatter, and absorb both UVA and UVB rays." A table lists them as providing extensive physical protection against UVA and UVB and also in UV-blocking sunglasses for use in space and for protection when welding, following research by scientists at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).[https://web.archive.org/web/20071115152916/http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2006/ch_6.html Look Sharp While Seeing Sharp]. NASA Scientific and Technical Information (2006). Retrieved 17 October 2009. JPL scientists developed UV-protective sunglasses using dyes and "zinc oxide, which absorbs ultraviolet light"

Paints containing zinc oxide powder have long been utilized as anticorrosive coatings for metals. They are especially effective for galvanized iron. Iron is difficult to protect because its reactivity with organic coatings leads to brittleness and lack of adhesion. Zinc oxide paints retain their flexibility and adherence on such surfaces for many years.

ZnO highly n-type doped with aluminium, gallium, or indium is transparent and conductive (transparency ~90%, lowest resistivity ~10⁻⁴ Ω·cm{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/S1369-7021(07)70078-0|title=ZnO – nanostructures, defects, and devices|year=2007| vauthors = Schmidtmende L, MacManusdriscoll J |journal=Materials Today|volume=10|pages=40–48 |issue=5|doi-access=free}}). ZnO:Al coatings are used for energy-saving or heat-protecting windows. The coating lets the visible part of the spectrum in but either reflects the infrared (IR) radiation back into the room (energy saving) or does not let the IR radiation into the room (heat protection), depending on which side of the window has the coating.

Plastics, such as polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), can be protected by applying zinc oxide coating. The coating reduces the diffusion of oxygen through PEN.{{cite journal | vauthors = Guedri-Knani L, Gardette JL, Jacquet M, Rivaton A | title=Photoprotection of poly(ethylene-naphthalate) by zinc oxide coating | journal=Surface and Coatings Technology | volume=180–181 | year=2004 | doi=10.1016/j.surfcoat.2003.10.039 | pages=71–75 }} Zinc oxide layers can also be used on polycarbonate in outdoor applications. The coating protects polycarbonate from solar radiation, and decreases its oxidation rate and photo-yellowing.{{cite journal | vauthors = Moustaghfir A, Tomasella E, Rivaton A, Mailhot B, Jacquet M, Gardette JL, Cellier J | title=Sputtered zinc oxide coatings: structural study and application to the photoprotection of the polycarbonate | journal=Surface and Coatings Technology | volume=180–181 | year=2004 | doi=10.1016/j.surfcoat.2003.10.109 | pages=642–645 }}

{{Main|Depleted zinc oxide}}

Zinc oxide depleted in ⁶⁴Zn (the zinc isotope with atomic mass 64) is used in corrosion prevention in nuclear pressurized water reactors. The depletion is necessary, because ⁶⁴Zn is transformed into radioactive ⁶⁵Zn under irradiation by the reactor neutrons.{{cite journal|doi=10.1680/nuen.40.4.245.39338|title=BWR water chemistry?a delicate balance|year=2001| vauthors = Cowan RL |journal=Nuclear Energy|volume=40|pages=245–252|issue=4}}

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is used as a pretreatment step to remove hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from natural gas following hydrogenation of any sulfur compounds prior to a methane reformer, which can poison the catalyst. At temperatures between about {{convert|230|-|430|C|F}}, H₂S is converted to water by the following reaction:Robinson, Victor S. (1978) "Process for desulfurization using particulate zinc oxide shapes of high surface area and improved strength" {{US Patent |4128619}}

:H₂S + ZnO → H₂O + ZnS

File:ZnO laser diode.png and the corresponding device structure.{{cite journal | vauthors = Liu XY, Shan CX, Zhu H, Li BH, Jiang MM, Yu SF, Shen DZ | title = Ultraviolet Lasers Realized via Electrostatic Doping Method | journal = Scientific Reports | volume = 5 | pages = 13641 | date = September 2015 | pmid = 26324054 | pmc = 4555170 | doi = 10.1038/srep13641 | bibcode = 2015NatSR...513641L }}]]

File:ZnO nanorod gas sensor.jpg and PET for polyethylene terephthalate.{{cite journal | vauthors = Zheng ZQ, Yao JD, Wang B, Yang GW | title = Light-controlling, flexible and transparent ethanol gas sensor based on ZnO nanoparticles for wearable devices | journal = Scientific Reports | volume = 5 | pages = 11070 | date = June 2015 | pmid = 26076705 | pmc = 4468465 | doi = 10.1038/srep11070 | bibcode = 2015NatSR...511070Z }}]]

ZnO has wide direct band gap (3.37 eV or 375 nm at room temperature). Therefore, its most common potential applications are in laser diodes and light emitting diodes (LEDs).{{cite journal | vauthors = Bakin A, El-Shaer A, Mofor AC, Al-Suleiman M, Schlenker E, Waag A | title=ZnMgO-ZnO quantum wells embedded in ZnO nanopillars: Towards realisation of nano-LEDs | journal=Physica Status Solidi C | volume=4 | issue=1 | year=2007 | doi=10.1002/pssc.200673557 | pages=158–161|bibcode = 2007PSSCR...4..158B }} Moreover, ultrafast nonlinearities and photoconductive functions have been reported in ZnO.{{Cite journal|last1=Torres-Torres|first1=C.|last2=Castro-Chacón|first2=J. H.|last3=Castañeda|first3=L.|last4=Rojo|first4=R. Rangel|last5=Torres-Martínez|first5=R.|last6=Tamayo-Rivera|first6=L.|last7=Khomenko|first7=A. V.|date=2011-08-15|title=Ultrafast nonlinear optical response of photoconductive ZnO films with fluorine nanoparticles|url=https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-19-17-16346|journal=Optics Express|language=EN|volume=19|issue=17|pages=16346–16355|doi=10.1364/OE.19.016346|pmid=21934998|bibcode=2011OExpr..1916346T|issn=1094-4087|doi-access=free}} Some optoelectronic applications of ZnO overlap with that of GaN, which has a similar band gap (~3.4 eV at room temperature). Compared to GaN, ZnO has a larger exciton binding energy (~60 meV, 2.4 times of the room-temperature thermal energy), which results in bright room-temperature emission from ZnO. ZnO can be combined with GaN for LED-applications. For instance, a transparent conducting oxide layer and ZnO nanostructures provide better light outcoupling.{{cite journal|doi=10.1109/JPROC.2009.2037444|title=ZnO – GaN Hybrid Heterostructures as Potential Cost Efficient LED Technology|year=2010| vauthors = Bakin A |journal=Proceedings of the IEEE|volume=98|pages=1281–1287|issue=7 |s2cid=20442190}} Other properties of ZnO favorable for electronic applications include its stability to high-energy radiation and its ability to be patterned by wet chemical etching.{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/S0921-5107(00)00604-8|title=Recent advances in ZnO materials and devices|year=2001| vauthors = Look D |journal=Materials Science and Engineering B|volume=80|issue=1–3|pages=383–387}} Radiation resistance{{cite journal | vauthors = Kucheyev SO, Williams JS, Jagadish C, Zou J, Evans C, Nelson AJ, Hamza AV | title=Ion-beam-produced structural defects in ZnO | journal=Physical Review B | volume=67 | issue=9 | pages=094115 | date=2003-03-31 | doi=10.1103/physrevb.67.094115 |bibcode = 2003PhRvB..67i4115K | url=http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:115991/UQ115991.pdf }} makes ZnO a suitable candidate for space applications. Nanostructured ZnO is an effective medium both in powder and polycrystalline forms in random lasers,{{Citation |last1=Perrière |first1=Jacques |title=ZnO and ZnO-Related Compounds |date=2006-11-17 |work=Pulsed Laser Deposition of Thin Films |pages=282 |editor-last=Eason |editor-first=Robert |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470052129.ch12 |access-date=2024-10-27 |edition=1 |publisher=Wiley |language=en |doi=10.1002/9780470052129.ch12 |isbn=978-0-471-44709-2 |last2=Millon |first2=Eric |last3=Craciun |first3=Valentin}} due to its high refractive index and aforementioned light emission properties.{{Cite journal |last=Abdulhameed |first=Abdullah |date=22 July 2024 |title=ZnO-based random lasing and their sensing applications: a mini-review |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13204-024-03059-6 |journal=Applied Nanoscience |language=en |volume=14 |issue=10 |pages=985–995 |doi=10.1007/s13204-024-03059-6 |bibcode=2024ApNan..14..985A |issn=2190-5509}}

Zinc oxide is used in semiconductor gas sensors for detecting airborne compounds such as hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. ZnO is a semiconductor that becomes n-doped by adsorption of reducing compounds, which reduces the detected electrical resistance through the device, in a manner similar to the widely used tin oxide semiconductor gas sensors. It is formed into nanostructures such as thin films, nanoparticles, nanopillars, or nanowires to provide a large surface area for interaction with gasses. The sensors are made selective for specific gasses by doping or surface-attaching materials such as catalytic noble metals.{{cite journal | last1=Zhou | first1=Xin | last2=Lee | first2=Songyi | last3=Xu | first3=Zhaochao | last4=Yoon | first4=Juyoung | title=Recent Progress on the Development of Chemosensors for Gases | journal=Chemical Reviews | volume=115 | issue=15 | date=2015 | issn=0009-2665 | doi=10.1021/cr500567r | pages=7944–8000| pmid=25651137 }}{{cite journal | last1=Sun | first1=Yu-Feng | last2=Liu | first2=Shao-Bo | last3=Meng | first3=Fan-Li | last4=Liu | first4=Jin-Yun | last5=Jin | first5=Zhen | last6=Kong | first6=Ling-Tao | last7=Liu | first7=Jin-Huai | title=Metal Oxide Nanostructures and Their Gas Sensing Properties: A Review | journal=Sensors | volume=12 | issue=3 | date=2012 | issn=1424-8220 | pmid=22736968 | pmc=3376589 | doi=10.3390/s120302610 | pages=2610–2631 | bibcode=2012Senso..12.2610S | doi-access=free }}

Aluminium-doped ZnO layers are used as transparent electrodes. The components Zn and Al are much cheaper and less toxic compared to the generally used indium tin oxide (ITO). One application which has begun to be commercially available is the use of ZnO as the front contact for solar cells or of liquid crystal displays.{{cite journal | vauthors = Oh BY, Jeong MC, Moon TH, Lee W, Myoung JM, Hwang JY, Seo DS |doi=10.1063/1.2206417|title=Transparent conductive Al-doped ZnO films for liquid crystal displays|year=2006 |journal=Journal of Applied Physics|volume=99 |issue=12|pages=124505–124505–4|bibcode = 2006JAP....99l4505O }}

Transparent thin-film transistors (TTFT) can be produced with ZnO. As field-effect transistors, they do not need a p–n junction,{{cite journal | vauthors = Nomura K, Ohta H, Ueda K, Kamiya T, Hirano M, Hosono H | title = Thin-film transistor fabricated in single-crystalline transparent oxide semiconductor | journal = Science | volume = 300 | issue = 5623 | pages = 1269–72 | date = May 2003 | pmid = 12764192 | doi = 10.1126/science.1083212 | bibcode = 2003Sci...300.1269N | s2cid = 20791905 }} thus avoiding the p-type doping problem of ZnO. Some of the field-effect transistors even use ZnO nanorods as conducting channels.{{cite journal | vauthors = Heo YW, Tien LC, Kwon Y, Norton DP, Pearton SJ, Kang BS, Ren F |doi=10.1063/1.1794351|title=Depletion-mode ZnO nanowire field-effect transistor|year=2004 |journal=Applied Physics Letters|volume=85|page=2274 |issue=12|bibcode = 2004ApPhL..85.2274H }}

The piezoelectricity in textile fibers coated in ZnO have been shown capable of fabricating "self-powered nanosystems" with everyday mechanical stress from wind or body movements.{{cite news| last = Keim | first = Brandon | name-list-style = vanc |title=Piezoelectric Nanowires Turn Fabric Into Power Source |url=http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/02/piezoelectric-n.html |date=February 13, 2008 |work=Wired News |publisher=CondéNet |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215001128/http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/02/piezoelectric-n.html |archive-date=February 15, 2008 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Qin Y, Wang X, Wang ZL | title = Microfibre-nanowire hybrid structure for energy scavenging | journal = Nature | volume = 451 | issue = 7180 | pages = 809–13 | date = February 2008 | pmid = 18273015 | doi = 10.1038/nature06601 | bibcode = 2008Natur.451..809Q | s2cid = 4411796 }}

ZnO, both in macro-{{Cite journal |last1=Lang |first1=Xianjun |last2=Chen |first2=Xiaodong |last3=Zhao |first3=Jincai |date=2014 |title=Heterogeneous visible light photocatalysis for selective organic transformations |url=https://xlink.rsc.org/?DOI=C3CS60188A |journal=Chem. Soc. Rev. |language=en |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=473–486 |doi=10.1039/C3CS60188A |pmid=24162830 |issn=0306-0012|hdl=10220/19472 |hdl-access=free }} and nano-{{Cite journal |last1=Ong |first1=Chin Boon |last2=Ng |first2=Law Yong |last3=Mohammad |first3=Abdul Wahab |date=2018-01-01 |title=A review of ZnO nanoparticles as solar photocatalysts: Synthesis, mechanisms and applications |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1364032117311656 |journal=Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews |volume=81 |pages=536–551 |doi=10.1016/j.rser.2017.08.020 |bibcode=2018RSERv..81..536O |issn=1364-0321}} scales, could in principle be used as an electrode in photocatalysis, mainly as an anode{{Cite journal |last1=Yang |first1=Jinhui |last2=Wang |first2=Donge |last3=Han |first3=Hongxian |last4=Li |first4=Can |date=2013-08-20 |title=Roles of Cocatalysts in Photocatalysis and Photoelectrocatalysis |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ar300227e |journal=Accounts of Chemical Research |language=en |volume=46 |issue=8 |pages=1900–1909 |doi=10.1021/ar300227e |pmid=23530781 |issn=0001-4842}} in green chemistry applications. As a photocatalyst, ZnO reacts when exposed to UV radiation and is used in photodegradation reactions to remove organic pollutants from the environment.{{Cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Kian Mun |last2=Lai |first2=Chin Wei |last3=Ngai |first3=Koh Sing |last4=Juan |first4=Joon Ching |date=2016-01-01 |title=Recent developments of zinc oxide based photocatalyst in water treatment technology: A review |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0043135415302578 |journal=Water Research |volume=88 |pages=428–448 |doi=10.1016/j.watres.2015.09.045 |pmid=26519627 |bibcode=2016WatRe..88..428L |issn=0043-1354}}{{Cite journal |last1=Ong |first1=Chin Boon |last2=Ng |first2=Law Yong |last3=Mohammad |first3=Abdul Wahab |date=2018-01-01 |title=A review of ZnO nanoparticles as solar photocatalysts: Synthesis, mechanisms and applications |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1364032117311656 |journal=Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews |volume=81 |pages=536–551 |doi=10.1016/j.rser.2017.08.020 |bibcode=2018RSERv..81..536O |issn=1364-0321}} It is also used to replace catalysts used in photochemical reactions that would ordinarily require costly or inconvenient reaction conditions with low yields.

The pointed tips of ZnO nanorods could be used as field emitters.{{cite journal | vauthors = Li YB, Bando Y, Golberg D |doi=10.1063/1.1738174|title=ZnO nanoneedles with tip surface perturbations: Excellent field emitters|year=2004 |journal=Applied Physics Letters|volume=84|page=3603|issue=18|bibcode = 2004ApPhL..84.3603L }}

ZnO is a promising anode material for lithium-ion battery because it is cheap, biocompatible, and environmentally friendly. ZnO has a higher theoretical capacity (978 mAh g⁻¹) than many other transition metal oxides such as CoO (715 mAh g⁻¹), NiO (718 mAh g⁻¹) and CuO (674 mAh g⁻¹).{{cite journal | vauthors = Zheng X, Shen G, Wang C, Li Y, Dunphy D, Hasan T, Brinker CJ, Su BL | display-authors = 6 | title = Bio-inspired Murray materials for mass transfer and activity | journal = Nature Communications | volume = 8 | pages = 14921 | date = April 2017 | pmid = 28382972 | pmc = 5384213 | doi = 10.1038/ncomms14921 | bibcode = 2017NatCo...814921Z }} ZnO is also used as an electrode in supercapacitors.{{Cite journal|last1=Sreejesh|first1=M.|last2=Dhanush|first2=S.|last3=Rossignol|first3=F.|last4=Nagaraja|first4=H. S.|date=2017-04-15|title=Microwave assisted synthesis of rGO/ZnO composites for non-enzymatic glucose sensing and supercapacitor applications|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272884216324105|journal=Ceramics International|language=en|volume=43|issue=6|pages=4895–4903|doi=10.1016/j.ceramint.2016.12.140|issn=0272-8842}}

As a food additive, zinc oxide is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's list of generally recognized as safe substances.{{cite web|url=http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnDetailNavigation.cfm?rpt=scogsListing&id=372 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140416175808/http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnDetailNavigation.cfm?rpt=scogsListing&id=372 | archive-date = 16 April 2014 | title = Zinc oxide | work = Database of Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS) Reviews | publisher = U.S. Food and Drug Administration |access-date=2009-08-03}}

Zinc oxide itself is non-toxic; it is hazardous, however, to inhale high concentrations of zinc oxide fumes, such as those generated when zinc or zinc alloys are melted and oxidized at high temperature. This problem occurs while melting alloys containing brass because the melting point of brass is close to the boiling point of zinc.{{cite web | author-link1 = Theodore Gray | last1 = Gray | first1 = Theodore | name-list-style = vanc |url = http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/ZincSafety.html | title = The Safety of Zinc Casting | work = The Wooden Periodic Table Table }} Inhalation of zinc oxide, which may occur when welding galvanized (zinc-plated) steel, can result in a malady called metal fume fever.

In sunscreen formulations that combined zinc oxide with small-molecule UV absorbers, UV light caused photodegradation of the small-molecule absorbers and toxicity in embryonic zebrafish assays.{{cite journal | vauthors = Ginzburg AL, Blackburn RS, Santillan C, Truong L, Tanguay RL, Hutchison JE | title = Zinc oxide-induced changes to sunscreen ingredient efficacy and toxicity under UV irradiation. | journal = Photochem Photobiol Sci | volume = 20 | pages = 1273–1285 | date = 2021 | issue = 10 | doi = 10.1007/s43630-021-00101-2 | pmid = 34647278 | pmc = 8550398 | bibcode = 2021PhPhS..20.1273G }}

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Depleted zinc oxide
• Zinc oxide nanoparticle
• Gallium(III) nitride
• List of inorganic pigments
• Zinc
• Zinc oxide eugenol
• Zinc peroxide
• Zinc smelting
• Zinc–air battery
• Zinc–zinc oxide cycle
• ZnO nanostructures

{{colend}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |ref=Haynes| editor= Haynes, William M. | date = 2016| title = CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics | edition = 97th | publisher = CRC Press | isbn = 9781498754293}}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin|30em}}

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{{refend}}

{{Commons category|Zinc oxide}}

{{Wiktionary|zinc oxide|philosopher's wool}}

• [http://www.webmineral.com/data/Zincite.shtml Zincite properties]
• [http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0208.htm International Chemical Safety Card 0208].
• [https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0675.html NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards].
• {{PPDB|1321}}
• [http://colourlex.com/project/zinc-white/ Zinc white pigment] at ColourLex

{{Zinc compounds}}

{{Sunscreening agents}}

{{Oxides}}

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Category:Amphoteric compounds

Category:Antipruritics

Category:Ceramic materials

Category:Corrosion inhibitors

Category:II-VI semiconductors

Category:Inorganic pigments

Category:Nonlinear optical materials

Category:Oxides

Category:Piezoelectric materials

Category:Sunscreening agents

Category:Wurtzite structure type

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