  The structural characterization of sol-gel based nano crystalline ZnO
material is being reported as we observe several previously unreported
structural aspects following a sequence of annealing stages. As-grown samples
were characterised by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Chemical
purity of the nano-grains and their crystallinity has been monitored by energy
dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM),
while the unusual changes in nano-crystal growth structure have been studied by
X-ray diffraction method. In addition, such samples have been studied by using
perturbed angular correlation (PAC) technique with the short-lived radioactive
probe 111mCd. Changes in the local electronic environment following sintering
of the nano-crystalline grains have been observed by this method.
