Organic–Inorganic Nanocomposites of Methylcellulose as a Precursor of Nanocrystalline ZnO Layers

Abstract

In this article, we present a sol-gel method to synthesize hybrid nanocomposite films of Zinc oxide (ZnO)/methylcellulose (MC) on microscope glass slides. The zinc/MC solutions were prepared, using different weight ratios of zinc acetate dihydrate to MC, in the presence of acetic acid. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) investigation of the Zn sol/MC mixture showed coordinating interaction between zinc ions and MC. Thermal gravimetry analysis (TGA) results showed rapid decomposition of organic compounds in the composites at the temperature range of 200-450 degrees C. The UV-Vis spectroscopy was also utilized to identify ZnO nanoparticles in the MC matrix. The generation of ZnO nanoparticles in the MC matrix was then observed to proceed in situ through the annealing of the gel phase at 200 degrees C. Nanocrystalline films of ZnO/MC were subsequently obtained by the calcinations of ZnO/MC nanocomposites at 550 degrees C. The nanocomposite films were transparent in the visible light and showed a higher energy absorption edge compared with the bulk ZnO. Nanocrystallite sizes of ZnO particles were estimated from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigations.