Surface Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized via Chemical Route

Abstract

Introduction: Zinc oxide nanoparticles belong to the new age of nanomaterials; they are being used tremendously for the advancements of biomedicine and modern therapeutic interventions. Purpose: The current antimicrobial treatment methods fail on various levels. Thus, the recent study is dedicated to synthesizing stable zinc oxide nanoparticles. Therefore, the application of zinc oxide nanoparticles as an alternative treatment option is explored. Methods: In the current research, fabrication of zinc oxide nanoparticles is carried out via the wet chemical method. To further confirm the purity and stability of the synthesized material, characterization was performed via zeta potential analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Result: SEM and TEM revealed the spherical structure of zinc oxide nanoparticles, also having slight agglomeration at a few points. The thermal stability was tested via thermogravimetric analysis and differential Scanning Calorimetry depicting the strength of the nanomaterial at a very high temperature. Elemental composition was evaluated using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy showing 96.01% zinc and 3.99% oxygen, demonstrating the purity of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles. It confirms that no other elements are present apart from zinc and oxygen. Conclusion: Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized via a wet chemical method using zinc nitrate and sodium hydroxide. This fabrication procedure is reliable, cheap, and yields the most stable byproducts. Characterization was carried out via several analytical techniques to check the authenticity of the synthesized nanomaterial, thus revealing that the obtained ZnO nanoparticles could be used in medical interventions as a safe option.