Synthesis and Structure of Zinc Oxide Aerogel

Abstract

The zinc-based aerogel was synthesized via a sol-gel route that it was processed using Zinc chloride as precursor, polyacrylic acid as the template and propylene oxide as the gelation agent. The Zn-based aerogel is formed the length and cross-link of the zinc chloride hydroxide chain, owing to a dominant influence of PAA on the nucleation and growth position of sol nucleus. Nevertheless, ZnO aerogel was prepared with the method that the zinc-based aerogel was calcined at 400°C. Consequently, the RWP value was in reasonable 7.35% according to X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) refinement. The crystal system of the ZnO aerogel was monoclinic.