Synthesis and structural characterization of nanocomposites ZnCo2O4/ZnO prepared by co-precipitation method

Abstract

ZnCo2O4 doped ZnO composites were successfully prepared by the coprecipitation process. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) is used for the structural characterization of prepared and heat-treated samples. Typical diffraction peaks corresponding to the cubic ZnCo2O4 spinal structure were identified for the sample which was calcined at a temperature of 500 °C. XRD data was used and using the Deby Scherrer concept crystallite size of ZnCo2O4 was estimated to be 38.47 nm. Whilst ZnO is jumbled in ZnCo2O4 and heat dealt with at 500 °C a new section (Zn0.85Co0.15)O is evolved having a hexagonal structure. The crystal size of (Zn0.85Co0.15)O was estimated to be 31.33 nm. The crystal size, cell parameters, R-Factor, and structural properties of nanocomposites were investigated. The Goodness Fit factor, cell parameters, and R-factor had been examined employing Rietveld Refinement. When a sample is heated above 500 °C, then at 650 °C first-rate peaks of simplest (Zn0.85Co0.15)O are observed.