Structural, morphological and optical properties of (ZnO)0.2 (ZrO2)0.8 nanoparticles

Abstract

What paved way to the innovation of this research work is the ability to investigate the constituents of nanomaterials, which consist of inorganic and organic nanoparticles and organic polymers, considered as a brand-new classification of materials. A unique material is produced through this process which contains organic and inorganic nanoparticles and organic polymers. These materials exhibit improved characteristics when compared with their respective nanoscale size. In the present study, binary oxide (zinc oxide (ZnO))0.2 (zirconia oxide (ZrO2))0.8 nanoparticles (NPs) at constant concentration of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), calcined at various temperatures were prepared by heat treatment technique. Zinc and zirconium nitrates (source of zinc and zirconium) with PVP (capping agent) was used to set up (ZnO)0.2 (ZrO2)0.8 NPs materials. Characterization of the materials was performed using the following analyses: thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL). Thermal analysis (TGA) grants the optimization of the heat treatment technique and shows the required temperature for calcination to occur. XRD pattern analysis demonstrated that nanoparticles obtained after calcination indicated a hexagonal crystalline pattern of ZnO and tetragonal crystalline pattern of ZrO2 NPs. The FTIR spectroscopy phase analysis confirmed ZnO and ZrO2 are the original compounds of the prepared (ZnO)0.2 (ZrO2)0.8 NPs, respectively. TEM results indicated an increase in the average size of the sample from 21 to 29 nm due to increment in calcination temperature. Furthermore, PL spectra showed an increase in the intensity of PL as the particle size increased. The research work also looked at the optical application among the widespread applications of nanosized particles, binary oxide (ZnO)0.2 (ZrO2)0.8 as a new functional material.