Investigation of Some Physical Properties of the Nanosized ZnO Prepared by the Coprecipitation Method

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have been fabricated via the coprecipitation method, where their structural, magnetic, thermal and optical properties have been investigated. The structural characteristics have been inspected through the X-ray diffraction patterns, particle size distribution, transmission electron microscopy, BET analysis, and Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy, which confirm the nanostructure of the ZnO particles. The BET analysis confirms the mesoporous nature of the ZnO nanoparticles. The magnetic properties have been investigated by the vibrating sample magnetometer. The hysteresis (M-H) loop ensures the paramagnetic behavior of the ZnO nanoparticles. The measured thermal conductivity of the ZnO is about 0.2901 W/mK. The very low thermal conductivity value for the ZnO nanoparticles makes it an attractive contender for thermoelectric power applications. UV-vis Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy has been exploited to study the optical properties. The nano ZnO direct and indirect band gap energy determined using Tauc’s relation are 3.29 and 3.09 eV, respectively. The optical properties, high porosity, and specific surface area of the prepared nanosized ZnO particles make it a promising candidate for photocatalytic application.

Keywords

• zno nanoparticles
• bet analysis
• magnetic properties
• uv-vis drs
• thermal conductivity