Effect of Sodium Hydroxide Concentration in Synthesizing Zinc Selenide/Graphene Oxide Composite via Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Method.

Han Kee Lee,Eng Khoon Ng,Md Shuhazlly Mamat @ Mat Nazira,Norita Mohd Yusoff,Zainal Abidin Talib,Enze Wang,Mohd Adzir Mahdi,Hong Ngee Lim,Josephine Ying Chyi Liew,Batool Eneaze Al-Jumaili

doi:10.3390/ma12142295

Han Kee Lee, Eng Khoon Ng + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12142295

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Journal: Materials	Publication Date: Jul 18, 2019
Citations: 9	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Universiti Putra Malaysia, University Of Fallujah

Abstract

The effect of NaOH solution on the formation of nanoparticles has been the subject of ongoing debate in selenium-based material research. In this project, the robust correlation between the mechanistic growth of zinc selenide/graphene oxide (ZnSe/GO) composite and the concentration of NaOH are elucidated. The ZnSe/GO composite was synthesized via microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and the concentrations of NaOH are controlled at 2 M, 3 M, 4 M, 5 M and 6 M. The XRD spectra show that the crystal phases of the samples exhibited a 100% purity of ZnSe when the concentration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was set at 4 M. The further increase of NaOH concentration leads to the formation of impurities. This result reflects the essential role of hydroxyl ions in modifying the purity state of ZnSe/GO composite. The optical band gap energy of ZnSe/GO composite also decreased from 2.68 eV to 2.64 eV when the concentration of NaOH increased from 2 M to 4 M. Therefore, it can be concluded that the optimum concentration of NaOH used in synthesizing ZnSe/GO composite is 4 M. This project provides an alternative green method in the formation of a high purity ZnSe/GO composite.

Highlights

Chalcogenide semiconductor nanoparticles have optical properties which are widely used in optoelectronic applications [1]
Zhang et al have reported that the enhancement of emission performance and photocatalytic activity can be achieved by using a Zinc selenide (ZnSe) microsphere with a size of 2 μm [9]
The experiment proved that the hydroxyl ions play an essential role in producing high purity zinc selenide/graphene oxide (ZnSe/GO)

Summary

Introduction

Chalcogenide semiconductor nanoparticles have optical properties which are widely used in optoelectronic applications [1]. Zinc selenide (ZnSe) is a wide band gap semiconductor with 2.70 eV at room temperature and good optical transmission performance under light. It is a common material used in optoelectronic applications such asphotovoltaic devices, light-emitting devices, transmission windows, and storage devices, as well as in Lasik surgery [2,3]. ZnSe can be synthesized using various methods such as the sol-gel, thermal evaporation, wet chemical synthesis, hydrothermal and solvothermal methods [4,5,6,7,8]. The shape and size of ZnSe are controlled using the hydrothermal. Zhang et al have reported that the enhancement of emission performance and photocatalytic activity can be achieved by using a ZnSe microsphere with a size of 2 μm [9]

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