The chemical and microstructural evolution of such systems can be considered as a function of temperature treatments.
Considering this factor, ZnO/SiO2 nanocomposite was heated very slowly for the removal of residual organics up to 200 C with linear temperature increments. We expect the formation of a growth seed layer in the sample at the surface of the xerogel which may reduce the nucleation energy barrier and supports the evolution and growth of nanostructures.