Ultrasonic assisted synthesis and characterization of ZnO and MgO nanoparticles and ZnO/MgO nanocomposite

We report here the synthesis of nanoparticles of ZnO and MgO and ZnO/MgO nanocomposite through reactions of zinc acetate and magnesium acetate solutions with tetramethylammonium hydroxide TMAH solution in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) by sonochemical method. At first, nanoparticles of ZnO and MgO were synthesized by the reaction of Zn( CHCOO3)2 with TMAH in the presence of PVP and constant frequency ultrasonic waves. Then, ZnO/MgO nanocomposite was prepared through reaction of magnesium acetate with TMAH in the presence of ZnO nanoparticles and PVP as structure director using ultrasonic-assisted method. The effects of different parameters on particle size and morphology of final ZnO and MgO powders and ZnO/MgO nanocomposite were optimized by ‘‘one at a time’’ method. Under optimum conditions, spongy shaped, uniformed and homogeneous nanostructured zinc oxide and magnesium oxide powders were obtained with particle sizes of 25-50 and 30-60 nm, respectively. ZnO/MgO nanocomposite was also obtained with more spongy morphology and particle size about 65 nm.

Keywords:

Sonochemical method , Nanoparticles , ZnO/MgO Nanocomposite