Effect of polyethylene glycol and propyltrimethoxysilane on structural and optical properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized by sol\u2013gel process

Djahnit Leila,Benosmane Ali,Haddaoui Nacereddine,Naitbouda Abddelyamine,Belhadj Fatima,López-González Mar

doi:10.1007/s40094-018-0303-2

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are prepared by sol–gel process, using both polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) as surfactant and propyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) as capping agent. Surface modification is performed in situ procedure. The physical parameters such as strain and stress values are calculated via the Williamson–Hall plot (W&H) assuming a uniform deformation model (UDM) and uniform stress deformation model, and by the size and strain plot method (SSP). The results show that the crystallite size estimated from Scherrer’s formula, (W&H), (UDM), (SSP) and the particle size estimated from DSL are inter-correlated, which confirm the small size and the isotropic nature of our ZnO NPs. The FTIR spectroscopy illustrates that PEG-400 and PTMS could be adsorbed at the ZnO NPs surface. The distinct emission peak in the blue band is located at 490 nm and E2 (high) mode is situated at 436 cm−1. Both results confirm the oxygen deficiency in the ZnO NPs.

Highlights

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is known as an important semiconductor for its favorable properties as transparency [1], high electron mobility [2], wide band gap [3], tough roomThe current paper presents a novel method to use both polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) and propyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) as surfactant and capping agent, respectively
The results show that the crystallite size estimated from Scherrer’s formula, (W&H), (UDM), (SSP) and the particle size estimated from DSL are inter-correlated, which confirm the small size and the isotropic nature of our Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs)
The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy illustrates that PEG-400 and PTMS could be adsorbed at the ZnO NPs surface

Summary

Introduction

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is known as an important semiconductor for its favorable properties as transparency [1], high electron mobility [2], wide band gap [3], tough roomThe current paper presents a novel method to use both polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) and propyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) as surfactant and capping agent, respectively. It has been proposed to add silane to Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics (2018) 12:159–167 enhance the stability and to prevent ZnO agglomeration. In this case, it would be important that PTMS could protect the surface against agglomeration in the presence of PEG400, and control their size and photoemission properties [13,14,15,16,17]. A perfect crystal would extend infinitely in all directions, for that reason, no crystal is perfect due to its finite size This deviation from perfect crystallinity leads to a broadening of the diffraction peaks. We explore the possibility to have good crystallinity and small size of ZnO NPs

Methods

Results

Conclusion