Synthesis of Poly (methyl methacrylate)/Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite with Core-Shell Morphology by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

A method to prepare zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with a covalently bonded poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shell by surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was reported. First, the initiator for ATRP was covalently bonded onto the surface of zinc oxide nanoparticles through our novel method. Firstly, the surface of ZnO nanoparticle was treated with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane, a silane coupling agent, and then this functionalization nanoparticle was reacted with α-chloro phenyl acetyl chloride to prepare atom transfer radical polymerization macroinitiator. The metal-catalyzed radical polymerization of MMA with ZnOmacroinitiator was performed using a copper catalyst system to give the ZnO-based nanoparticles hybrids linking PMMA segments (poly (methyl methacrylate)/zinc oxide nanocomposite). These hybrid nanoparticles had an exceptionally good dispersability in organic solvents and were subjected to detailed characterization using FTIR, TEM and TGA and DSC analyzed.     

Microstructural Characteristics and Magnetic Properties of Gadolinium-Substituted Cobalt Ferrite Nanocrystals Synthesized by Hydrothermal Processing

Gadolinium substituted cobalt ferrite nanocrystals with composition of CoFe_2?xGd_xO₄ (x = 0–0.04 in a step of 0.01) were prepared by a hydrothermal process and without subsequent annealing. X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer were used to investigate the effect of Gd³⁺ cation substitution on structural Characteristics and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite nanocrystals. The X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that single phase spinel ferrites were obtained. The FE-SEM micrographs of the synthesized samples indicated the presence of two distinct groups of grains exhibiting different sizes and, more important, different shapes. The results of magnetic hysteresis at a room temperature showed that with an increase in gadolinium content, the coercive field decreased from 1250 Oe for x = 0 to 450 Oe for x = 0.03. In addition, it was observed that with substitutions of gadolinium cations, the values of saturation magnetization decreased.     

Characterization and optical property of ZnO nano-, submicro- and microrods synthesized by hydrothermal method on a large-scale

In the present paper, well-dispersed ZnO nano-, submicro- and microrods with hexagonal structure were synthesized by a simple low temperature hydrothermal process from zinc nitrate hexahydrate without using any additional surfactant, organic solvent or catalytic agent. The phase and structural analysis were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), the morphological analysis was carried out by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and the optical property was characterized by room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results revealed the high crystal quality of ZnO powder with hexagonal (wurtzite-type) crystal structure and the formation of well-dispersed ZnO nano-, submicro- and microrods with diameters of about 50, 200 and 500 nm, and lengths of 300 nm, 1 μm and 2 μm, respectively, on a large-scale just using the different temperatures. Room-temperature PL spectrum from the ZnO nanorods reveals a strong UV emission peak at about 360 nm and no green emission band at ∼530 nm. The strong UV photoluminescence indicates the good crystallization quality of the ZnO nanorods. Room-temperature PL spectra from the ZnO submicro- and microrods reveal a weak UV emission peak at ∼400 nm and a very strong visible green emission at 530 nm, that is ascribed to the transition between V_oZn_i and valence band.