Abstract
A single-step solvothermal approach to prepare stabilized cubic zirconia (ZrO2) nanoparticles (NPs) and highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) and ZrO2 nanocomposite (HRG@ZrO2) using benzyl alcohol as a solvent and stabilizing ligand is presented. The as-prepared ZrO2 NPs and the HRG@ZrO2 nanocomposite were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), which confirmed the formation of ultra-small, cubic phase ZrO2 NPs with particle sizes of ~2 nm in both reactions. Slight variation of reaction conditions, including temperature and amount of benzyl alcohol, significantly affected the size of resulting NPs. The presence of benzyl alcohol as a stabilizing agent on the surface of ZrO2 NPs was confirmed using various techniques such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), Raman and XPS spectroscopies and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Furthermore, a comparative electrochemical study of both as-prepared ZrO2 NPs and the HRG@ZrO2 nanocomposites is reported. The HRG@ZrO2 nanocomposite confirms electronic interactions between ZrO2 and HRG when compared their electrochemical studies with pure ZrO2 and HRG using cyclic voltammetry (CV).
Highlights
Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) possess excellent electrochemical properties and have long been applied in several electrochemical applications including electrochemical sensors, energy conversion and energy storage [1,2]
We reported the synthesis of highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG)@ZrO2 nanocomposites using a facile and one-step solvothermal strategy using benzyl alcohol as solvent [28]
Benzyl alcohol is an excellent agent, which can be applied in a general route to prepare nanosized, low-dimensional transition metal oxides, including ZrO2 NPS
Summary
Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) possess excellent electrochemical properties and have long been applied in several electrochemical applications including electrochemical sensors, energy conversion and energy storage [1,2]. ZrO2 NPs, with excellent chemical inertness and low toxicity, could be a candidate to display potential electrochemical properties They have been applied as an ideal electrode material in biosensors [12,13]. They are a P-type semiconductor with plenty of oxygen vacancies on the surface, and they possess high ion-exchange capacity and redox activities, making them useful in many electrochemical processes [14]. Due to their high mechanical strength and excellent optical and thermal properties, ZrO2 NPs have been applied in various other fields
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