Polymer precursor method for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles: A novel approach

Abstract

This study presents a novel approach to synthesize zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using a polymer precursor method, offering precise control over particle size in the nanometer scale. Zinc oxide nanoparticles are of significant interest due to their wide-ranging applications in various fields such as solar cells, gas sensors, photocatalysts, and nanomedicines. The synthesized nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The distinct hexagonal form detected in the XRD pattern, featuring characteristic reflection planes at angles of 31.72° (100), 34.39° (002), 36.23° (101), and 47.44° (102), signifies the synthesis of ZnO possessing a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The SEM and TEM images revealed uniformly spherical particles with an average size ranging from 35 to 40 nm. Such uniform morphology and size distribution are critical for ensuring consistent performance in applications such as gas sensing and catalysis. Additionally, the FTIR spectra indicated a reduction in impurities after the synthesis process, highlighting the effectiveness of the polymer precursor method in producing high-quality ZnO nanoparticles. Heating the ZnO precursor material at 400°C for 2 hours significantly reduces impurities, suggesting conversion to ZnO nanoparticles.

Keywords

• Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy
• Polymer precursor method
• Scanning Electron Microscopy
• Zinc oxide nanoparticles
• Transmission Electron Microscopy
• X-ray Diffraction