Fabrication and characterization of zinc oxide nanofibers for renewable energy applications

Abstract

Nanometer (nm) scale 1D zinc oxide (ZnO) nanofibers were fabricated through sol–gel processing and electrospinning of Polyvinyl alcohal (PVA) and zinc acetate precursors. The structure and morphologies of the zinc acetate/PVA precursor and ZnO nanofibers were studied by fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Bead free smooth nanofibers with increased average diameters (278nm (5wt.%) and 423nm (15wt.%)) were obtained as the content of zinc acetate precursor was increased. The calcination temperature of 480°C was determined from TGA. FTIR, XRD and TGA studies carried out after calcinations, confirmed the formation of ZnO nanofibers by the appearance of a band at 472cm−1, characteristic ZnO pattern (i.e. peaks at ∼31.820, 34.331, 36.496, 47.569 and 57.168 2θ degree) and no weight loss after 480°C, respectively. The burning of polymer has also been confirmed by a significant decrease in average diameter (124nm (5wt.%) and 197nm (15wt.%)) of the ZnO nanofibers. Electrospinning has been found to be a simple and cost effective technique for the synthesis of ID ZnO nanofibers mat for potential applications in the renewable energy devices.