Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles
Geetha A. and Mallika J. *
Department of Chemistry, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore-641014, Tamil Nadu, India
*Corresponding Author:
[email protected] ABSTRACT
Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized at room temperature by wet chemical method using
zinc nitrate and sodium hydroxide as starting materials. The prepared ZnO nanoparticles were
characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Field
emission Scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). X-ray diffractogram confirmed the wurtzite structure
of ZnO. The presence of functional groups was analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. FESEM images revealed
the shape and size of the ZnO nanostructures.
Keywords: ZnO nanoparticles, Wet chemical method, Structural studies.
INTRODUCTION their in depth exploitation in environmental and
Nanotechnology is rising as a quickly antibacterial drug activity. The antibacterial
growing field with its application in science and agents are used to prevent or kill the growth of
technology for the aim of producing new bacteria. Zinc oxide nanoparticles are good
[1]
material at the nanoscale level . The antibacterial drug agent. The excellent
nanoparticles attracted the attention because of antibacterial drug activity of zinc oxide
their distinctive physical and chemical nanoparticles were probed by several
[7-10]
properties compared to that of the bulk material researchers . The present work is aimed to
[2]
. Among metal oxide nanoparticles, zinc oxide prepare ZnO nanoparticles by wet chemical
has received much more attention because ZnO method using zinc nitrate hexahydrate and
having wide band gap (3.37eV), large sodium hydroxide.
excitation binding energy (60meV) and higher
melting point (2248K) and has been widely MATERIALS AND METHODS
used in many applications such as transparent Chemicals
conductive films, efficient photocatalysts, Analytical grade reagents namely Zn
varistors, gas sensors, ceramics, electrical and nitrate hexahydrate (ZnNO3.6H2O), sodium
[3-6]
optical devices . Recently nanostructured hydroxide obtained from Merck chemicals
ZnO have engrossed nice attention owing to were used while not additional purification.
PSGCAS Search: A Journal of Science and Technology Volume: 3 No. : 2, ISSN: 2349 – 5456 72
Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles
Pure de-ionized water was used for preparing vibration and the peak at 2924.09 cm-1 shows
solutions and purification of the prepared the C-H stretching and the peak at 2376.30
nanoparticles. cm-1 represents the stretching vibration of
Preparation of ZnO nanoparticles CO2. The absorption peak at 1504 cm−1
Wet chemical method was used for indicates the presence of stretching vibration
preparation of ZnO nanoparticles. To prepare due to C=O group. The band at 470.63 cm-1
ZnO nanoparticles, 100 ml of 0.2 M NaOH was associated to the stretching vibration of
was added drop wise into a solution synthesized ZnO nanoparticles.
containing 100 ml of 0.1 M zinc nitrate %T
solution under constant stirring. The resulting
solution was kept at room temperature for 4
hours under constant stirring. The so obtained
white precipitate was centrifuged, washed
several times with distilled water and then
with alcohol and dried at 80◦C in an oven for
5 hours. During drying, the conversion of Zn
(OH) 2 into zinc oxide takes place. Wave number
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Figure.1 FT-IR spectrum of ZnO
FT-IR Spectroscopy nanoparticles
The presence and the interaction of
chemical functional groups in the synthesized X-ray powder Diffraction studies
zinc oxide nanoparticles were analyzed using The X-Ray powder diffraction
FT-IR spectrophotometer (Perkin Elmer) at pattern of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles
the resolution of 4 cm-1 in the range of 4000 - was recorded on an X-Ray diffractometer
400 cm-1. In the FT-IR spectrum of ZnO using Cu (kα) radiation (λ=1.5415×10-10)
(Figure.1), the broad band between 3200-3600 operating at 40 kv and 30 mA with 2 ranging
cm-1 centered at 3402.43 cm-1 corresponds to from 10o–90o Figure.3 shows 2 values at
the stretching vibration of chemical bond (O- 31.7, 34.3, 36.2, 38.4, 47.5, 56.6, 62.8 and
H) existing between the absorbable water 68.0 equivalent to distinctive peak at (100),
molecule and oxygen of zinc oxide. The peak (002), (101), (102), (110), (103) and (200)
at 1627 cm-1 corresponds to O-H bending planes that are in good agreement with JCPDS
PSGCAS Search: A Journal of Science and Technology Volume: 3 No. : 2, ISSN: 2349 – 5456 73
Geetha A. and Mallika J.
card no: 36-145111-12]. This results confirmed λ - Wavelength of X- ray source 0.15406 nm
that the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles with β - Full width at half maximum of the
hexagonal wurzite kind structure. diffraction peak
Using Debye Scherer’s equation, - Scherrer, s constant (0.94)
λ/ - Bragg angle
Where, - crystalline size of zinc oxide in
(XRD),
C o unt s
S1
400
300
200
100
0
20 30 40 50 60 70 80
P o s it io n [ °2 T he t a ] ( C o p p e r ( C u) )
Fig.2 XRD patterns of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles
Table 1
2θ values and FWHM of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles
2θ Height [counts] FWHM Left [2θ.] d-spacing [Å] Rel. Int. [%]
31.7206 151.49 0.1968 2.82092 33.90
34.3904 446.92 0.1968 2.60780 100.00
36.2029 239.06 0.1968 2.48129 53.49
38.4647 11.59 0.2952 2.34043 2.59
47.5149 24.24 0.2952 1.91363 5.42
56.6060 45.17 0.1968 1.62599 10.11
62.8281 31.58 0.2952 1.47910 7.07
68.0236 18.34 0.2952 1.37824 4.10
Table.1 revealed that the average FE-SEM studies
particle size of the synthesized ZnO FE-SEM image (Figure.4 - a, b, c & d)
nanoparticles was found to be increased from shows the surface morphology and particle size
24 nm to 26 nm. of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. It is clear
PSGCAS Search: A Journal of Science and Technology Volume: 3 No. : 2 ISSN: 2349 – 5456 74
Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles
4a 4b
4c 4d
Fig. 3 FE-SEM image of surface morphology and particle size of ZnO nanoparticle
from the images that the size of the ZnO nanoparticles calculated from XRD were 24-
nanoparticles is ranging from 24-26 nm. The 26 nm. The FT-IR studies confirmed the
obtained products are composed of nearly formation of synthesized zinc oxide
flower shaped morphology with average size in nanoparticles. The FESEM images show the
the range of 200 nm. flower shaped morphology of the synthesized
CONCLUSION particles.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles were
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