Synthesis of ZnO/NiO nanocomposites from ethanol solutions

We propose a process for the synthesis of ZnO/NiO nanocomposites from ethanolic solutions by means of consecutive generation of ZnO and NiO nanoparticles. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) show that in the range 400–900°C, nanocomposites are two-phase mixtures of particles of hexagonal and cubic phases with ZnO dissolved in NiO; at 1000°C, Ni_0.5Zn_0.5O single-phase solid solution is generated. The mean particle size determined from TEM data and diffraction peak broadening increases with rising temperature. In the cathodoluminescence spectrum of a sample annealed at 400°C, the luminescence peak shifts to the UV. Specific magnetization versus magnetic field measurements in nanocomposites show hysteresis; the coercive force reaches 200 Oe.