Electrical,optical and photocatalytic properties of Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO and Ti-loaded ZnO nanospheres

Ti-loaded ZnO and Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized by sol–gel method and analyzed for photocatalyst application. The phase confirmation was analyzed by powder XRD and surface morphology with HR-SEM and EDAX spectrum. The particle size measured using HR-TEM and SAED pattern confirms the crystalline nature of Ti-loaded ZnO and Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO nanoparticles. The optical properties were studied with UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectra. The DRS of Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO nanoparticles are similar to those of pristine ZnO nanoparticles. The KM plots show both the synthesized Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO and Ti-loaded ZnO exhibit in UV-A region. The electric properties are studied with impedance analyzer, and the results show the charge-transfer resistance of Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO is larger than that of Ti-loaded ZnO nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity was studied with methylene blue dye and phenol degradation by Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO, Ti-loaded ZnO, TiO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of Ti-loaded ZnO/ZnO nanospheres is slightly higher than that of other nanoparticles, which shows that they have excellent application as photocatalyst.     

Tuning the morphology of ZnO nanoparticles by Zn-clusters and application on the photoreduction of Cr(VI)

The ZnO nanoparticles in a uniformed size have been applied as the photocatalysts over the reduction of Cr(VI). The morphologies of the ZnO nanoparticles are decided by the cluster type of mother sample Zn-MOFs, which are prepared with the same bi-ligands 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3BTC) and phenanthroline (phen) in the presence of Zn ions. The SEM, TEM, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and UV–vis study reveal the physical properties and structural information of ZnO nanoparticles. The reduction rate of Cr(VI) under the UV light irradiation indicates that the ZnO nanoparticles have higher activities with promoting reduction rate comparing with the related Zn-MOFs. The test of photocurrent approves the reduction ability of each sample.     

Photochemical Synthesis,Spectral-Optical and Electrophysical Properties of Composite Nanoparticles of ZnO/Ag

The photochemical synthesis of nanoparticles of ZnO/Ag in isopropanol solutions has been carried out. Their optical properties have been studied and the parameters of the plasma resonance of the nanoparticles of silver in the ZnO/Ag composites have been calculated. It has been established that the hypsochromic shift of the plasma band of silver observed on irradiation of the nanocomposite is a result of accumulation of excess electrons on the ZnO/Ag particles which leads to equalization of the potentials of the conductions zones of the semiconductor and the metallic components of the nanocomposite.     

Photocatalytic degradation of anionic surfactant using zinc oxide nanoparticles

In this paper the photocatalytic degradation of anionic surfactant LABS was studied by a batch process using ZnO nanoparticles with diameter size of 20 nm catalyst on irradiation with UV light and their behavior comparatively examined with respect to ZnO commercial powder. The effect of parameters such as initial surfactant concentration, initial solution pH has been studied. Also degradation at LABS in the presence of an electron acceptor like potassium peroxydisulfate and effect of anion presence on surfactant degradation has been systematically investigated. The obtained result demonstrated a high photocatalytic activity of nanosize semiconducting particles.     

Photopolymerization of Butyl Methacrylate in the Presence of Nanoparticles of ZnO,Sensitized to Visible Light with Xanthene Dyes

The photopolymerization of butyl methacrylate in isopropanol with participation of nanoparticles of wide-gap semiconductor ZnO has been studied. The possibility of sensitizing ZnO nanoparticles to visible light with a series of halogenated fluoresceins has been established. The rate of photoinitiation of polymerization in the systems studied is principally determined by the rate of electron transfer from the photoexcited molecule of the sensitizer into the conduction zone of the semiconductor nanoparticles.     

Polymer crystalline structure and morphology changes in nylon‐6/ZnO nanocomposites

The influence of ZnO nanoparticles on the crystalline structures of nylon‐6 under different crystallization conditions (annealing at different temperatures from the amorphous solid, isothermal crystallization from the melt at different temperatures, and crystallization from the solution) has been examined with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared. ZnO nanoparticles can induce the γ‐crystalline form in nylon‐6 when it is cooled from the melted state and annealed from the amorphous solid. This effect of ZnO nanoparticles increases with decreasing particle size and changes under different crystallization conditions. The effects of ZnO nanoparticles on the crystallization kinetics of nylon‐6 have also been studied with DSC. The results show that ZnO nanoparticles have two competing effects on the crystallization of nylon‐6: inducing the nucleation but retarding the mobility of polymer chains. Finally, the melting behavior of the composites has been investigated with DSC, and the multiple melting peaks of composites containing ZnO nanoparticles and pure nylon‐6 are ascribed to the reorganization of imperfect crystals. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1033–1050, 2003     

Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on a clay mineral surface in dimethyl sulfoxide medium

Nanocrystalline ZnO particles have been prepared with different methods using zinc cyclohexanebutyrate as precursor in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) medium via alkaline hydrolysis. A series of preparations were carried out in the presence of layered silicates (kaolinite and montmorillonite). It was revealed by different measurement techniques that the presence of the clay minerals has a stabilization influence on the size of the ZnO nanocrystals. UV-vis absorption spectra show a blue shift when the nanoparticles are prepared in the presence of the clay minerals. The average particle diameters calculated from the Brus equation ranged from 2.6 to 13.0 nm. The UV-vis spectra of the synthesized nanoparticles did not show any red shift after 2-3 days, demonstrating that stable ZnO nanocrystals are present in the dispersions. The presence of the ZnO nanoparticles was also proven by fluorescence measurements. A number of the nanoparticles are incorporated into the interlamellar space of the clays, and an intercalated structure is formed as proven by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The size of the nanoparticles in the interlamellar space is in the range of 1-2 nm according to the XRD patterns. Transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy investigations were applied to determine directly the particle size and the size distribution of the nanoparticles.     

ZnS nanoparticle decorated ZnO nanowall network: investigation through electron microscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry

We report on the fabrication of ZnO nanowall networks decorated with ZnS nanostructures on aluminum substrates using simple chemical route. The structural features and elemental constituents of the ZnS/ZnO heterostructure systems have been extensively studied using electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The light emission characteristics of the bare and heterostructured systems have been analyzed using room temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy. The decoration of ZnS nanostructures over ZnO nanowalls has been evidenced through secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The ‘matrix effect’ has been found to be prominent during SIMS analysis of the bare and heterostructured nanowalls indicating the presence of ZnS phase over ZnO surface. ‘MCs⁺‐SIMS’ has been employed to suppress the matrix effect and is found to be potentially effective in making a semi‐quantitative estimation of Zn and O surface–atom concentrations in both systems. The luminescence responses of the ZnS/ZnO heterostructures have been found to be strongly dependent on the extent of ZnS phase over ZnO. The higher luminescence responses in ZnS/ZnO heterostructures fabricated with smaller ZnS nanoparticles have been explained in terms of a mechanism of charge‐carrier transfer from ZnS to ZnO. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermally stimulated dielectric properties of polyvinylidenefluoride–zinc oxide nanocomposites

Thirty-micrometer thick polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF)–zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposite samples in the mass ratio of ZnO (1–6% (w/w)) have been prepared by solution mixing method. The nano- and microstructures of PVDF–ZnO nanocomposite of different mass ratios were characterized by using high-resolution techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM and AFM images show the presence of different components such as nanoparticles, amorphous and crystalline phases in nanocomposite samples. Dielectric properties of polymer nanocomposite based on PVDF and ZnO of different mass/% compositions have been studied to understand the molecular motion at different frequencies in the temperature range from 300 to 500 K. The permittivity of the nanocomposites decreases with frequency, while increases with the increasing temperature and ZnO content. The loss peak that disappeared at higher frequency is the remarkable result of this study.     

Vibrational spectroscopic study of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-ZnO nanocomposites

A series of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-zinc oxide (PDMS-ZnO) nanocomposites having different concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles (0, 1, 5, 10 and 20 wt%) have been prepared. Raman and FTIR-ATR spectroscopic analysis was performed in order to determine the interaction between the ZnO nanoparticles and PDMS polymer matrix. Density functional theory (DFT) using the (B3-LYP)/6-311++G(2df,2p) method was used to investigate the vibrational spectra of PDMS. A complete vibrational assignment is supported by the normal coordinate analysis, calculated Raman activities as well as IR intensities.The presence of ZnO nanoparticles in PDMS gives rise to significant differences in relative intensities of the characteristic vibrational bands with respect to the cross-linked polymer. The changes in relative intensities of Raman bands, as well as swelling measurements, were used to explain the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the cross-linked structure of PDMS nanocomposites. It is established that ZnO nanoparticles influence the cross-linking density of the polymer matrix.     

Effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy-based nanocomposite

Effect of ZnO nanoparticles particles on the mechanical properties and the curing behavior of an epoxy nanocomposite were studied. Nanocomposites were prepared using different loadings of pre-dispersed ZnO nanoparticles having an average size of 40 nm. The surface topography and morphology of the nanocomposites were studied using atomic force microscope (AFM). The mechanical properties of nanocomposites were studied using analytical techniques including dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and micro-Vickers hardness. Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on the curing behavior of these nanocomposites were investigated utilizing isothermal and non-isothermal differential scanning calorimeter techniques. In addition, chemical compositions of coatings containing different ZnO nanoparticles contents were studied using a Fourier transform inferred. It was found that, ZnO nanoparticles can effectively influence the mechanical properties of epoxy coating. In addition, lower curing degrees, and therefore crosslinking density of epoxy coating including higher ZnO nanoparticles were obtained. This effect was completely different at low and high loadings of the particles.     

Effect of ZnO nanofillers treated with triethoxy caprylylsilane on the isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization of poly(lactic acid)

The crystallization of PLA-silane surface-treated ZnO nanocomposites was investigated by DSC and compared to that of neat PLA. Several modes of crystallization were considered: isothermal and non-isothermal cold crystallization and also isothermal and non-isothermal melt crystallization. The kinetics of cold crystallization were studied using different methods, namely the Avrami and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall models, to calculate activation energies and kinetic constants. In contrast to what is typically observed when the foreign particles are added in a polymer matrix, the silane surface-treated ZnO delayed the crystallization of PLA and made it more difficult to start. The nucleation activity of the ZnO nanoparticles, ?, was calculated and found to be greater than 1 (? = 1.7). This indicated that ZnO played an anti-nucleating role in the crystallization of PLA nanocomposites. This effect has been linked mainly to the interactions between the silane groups onto the surface of nanoparticles and PLA macromolecules. These interactions which reduce the mobility of polymer chains have been evidenced by rheological experiments.     

Photochemical Synthesis and Spectral-Optical Characteristics of ZnO/Cu and ZnO/Ag/Cu Nanoheterostructures

The photoreduction of Cu²⁺ at the surface of ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO/Ag nanostructures was investigated. The spectral characteristics of the obtained ZnO/Cu and ZnO/Ag/Cu composites were studied in relation to the reaction conditions. It was shown that the ZnO/Ag nanoparticles have higher photocatalytic activity in the reduction of Cu²⁺ ions than the individual ZnO particles.     

不同形貌ZnO纳米粒子的超声化学法制备与表征

One-dimensional ZnO nanorods and shuttle-like ZnO nanoparticles have been successfully achieved by ultrasonic irradiation of Zn (CH3COO)2 aqueous solution and Zn-NH3 complexcs solution. The obtained ZnO nanoparticles have been characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electronic diffraction (SAED). And the formative mechanism of the prepared different morphological ZnO nanoparticles is also discussed under ultrasonic irradiation.     

Controlled reduction of the deleterious effects of photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles by PVA capping

Nanoparticles of uncapped and PVA (poly vinyl alcohol) capped zinc oxide were synthesized by precipitation method. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis. The photocatalytic activity of bare and modified ZnO nanoparticles was studied by monitoring the degradation of Rhodamine B. The results show that PVA capped ZnO nanoparticles has reduced photocatalytic activity than the bare ZnO nanoparticles. The reduction in the chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon results also revealed the reduced photocatalytic activity of PVA capped ZnO. The UV-shielding property was evaluated by measuring the transmittance which shows that both bare and PVA capped ZnO nanoparticles possess good UV-shielding ability.     

Synergistic cytotoxic effect of different sized ZnO nanoparticles and daunorubicin against leukemia cancer cells under UV irradiation

Failure of chemotherapy to the malignant tumor is usually induced by multidrug resistance (MDR). The development of anti-MDR agents for efficient drug delivery is of great importance in cancer therapy. Recent reports have demonstrated that some anticancer drugs could be readily self-assembled on some biocompatible nanomaterials covalently or non-covalently, which could effectively afford the sustained drug delivery for the target cancer cells and reduce the relevant toxicity towards normal cells and tissues. Thus these biocompatible nanomaterials may play an important role in the relevant biological and biomedical system. In this paper, we have explored the cytotoxic effect of anticancer drug daunorubicin on leukemia cancer cells in the absence and presence of different sized ZnO nanoparticles via fluorescence microscopy, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, electrochemical analysis as well as MTT assay. Meanwhile, the cytotoxicity suppression of daunorubicin together with different sized ZnO nanoparticles in the absence and presence of UV irradiation on leukemia cancer cells were also investigated using MTT assay. The results indicate that the combination of the different sized ZnO nanoparticles and daunorubicin under UV irradiation could have synergistic cytotoxic effect on leukemia cancer cells, indicating the great potential of ZnO nanoparticles in relevant clinical and biomedical applications.     

Zn-nicotinate complex – a precursor for ZnO nanoparticles

A zinc-nicotinate complex has been prepared by direct reaction of zinc acetate and nicotinic acid in the presence of template tetramethylethylenediamine and is characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, and TGA/DTA. The Zn complex was a precursor for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles. A correlation of the thermal and spectral properties of the precursor complex with its structure has been discussed. Thermolysis under air was studied by thermogravimetry, and the resulting ZnO product was characterized by XRD and TEM, showing compact particles with a diameter of about 17–50?nm.     

Self‐Assembly of ZnO Nanocrystals in Colloidal Solutions

The self‐organization in solution of ZnO nanocrystals into superlattices is monitored by dynamic light scattering. When long‐alkyl‐chain amines or carboxylic acids are used as stabilizing ligands, no organization is observed. In contrast, when binary mixtures of long‐alkyl‐chain amines and carboxylic acids are used, the presence of a thermodynamic equilibrium between free and organized ZnO nanoparticles is detected in THF or toluene. The superlattices of organized ZnO nanoparticles are independently observed by TEM and SEM. The coordination mode of the ligands at the surface of the ZnO nanoparticles is evidenced by NMR studies. The presence of ion‐paired ammonium carboxylate surrounding the surface of ZnO nanoparticles appears to be a necessary requirement to govern this reversible organization. This is substantiated by the absence of organization of ZnO nanoparticles when either a solvent of high dielectric constant, such as acetone, or a strong hydrogen‐bond acceptor is used.     

纳米ZnO的制备及其光学性质的研究

采用均匀沉淀法，以尿素与硝酸锌反应制备纳米ZnO，通过TG-DTA、XRD、IR及TEM等手段对纳米粒子及中间体进行了表征，结果表明制得的纳米粒子粒度均匀，粒径分布窄。对纳米ZnO的发光特性研究表明，随焙烧温度升高，粒度的增大，可见绿色发射增强。同时对纳米ZnO与普通ZnO的发光性质进行了比较研究，指出纳米ZnO的绿色发光带有蓝移现象，这是由于纳米ZnO的量子尺寸效应引起的。BET测试表明，纳米ZnO的比表面为171．2m^2／g，有利于作催化剂。     

Novel Green Route of Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles by Using Natural Biodegradable Polymer and Its Application as a Catalyst for Oxidation of Aldehydes

ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized by using biodegradable natural biopolymer viz. Gum Tragacanth. This single step approach is very cost effective and reproducible. The reaction time and concentration of precursor zinc acetate play a major role in the nature and growth of ZnO nanoparticles. ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM, FTIR, EDAX, UV-visible spectroscopy and TEM. ZnO nanoparticles with 20-30 nm in diameter and hexagonal morphology were found; dispersed uniformly. Raman spectrum shows the mode E₂ high at 437 cm^?1 that is related to the vibration of wurtzite Zn-O bond in crystal structure of ZnO. The space between adjacent lattice fringes is ～ sharp 2.42 Å. UV-visible absorption spectrum shows the sharp absorption band at 308 nm assigned to the intrinsic transition from valance band to conduction band. The ZnO nanoparticles display superior catalytic activity of conversion of aldehyde to acid as compared to bulk-ZnO material, because of high surface area of ZnO nanoparticles. A trace amount of ZnO nanoparticles catalyst required for organic conversion. The ZnO nanoparticles as catalyst are highly stable, recyclable and efficient in its activity.