Open AccessA wrinkled ZnO/MCM-41 nanocomposite: hydrothermal synthesis and characterization
Author(s) -
Yesmin PanecatlBernal,
Rodolfo Lima Juárez,
Elder A. de Vasconcelos,
M. Chávez Portillo,
W.M. de Azevêdo,
Miguel-Ángel Méndez-Rojas,
Rafael Garrido-Rosado,
Julio Villanueva-Cab,
Salvador Alcántara Iniesta,
J. Alvarado
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
materials research express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.383
H-Index - 35
ISSN - 2053-1591
DOI - 10.1088/2053-1591/ac0c50
Subject(s) - fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , materials science , nanocomposite , scanning electron microscope , adsorption , photocatalysis , chemical engineering , hydrothermal circulation , photoluminescence , zinc nitrate , hydrothermal synthesis , spectroscopy , molecule , hexamethylenetetramine , zinc , nanotechnology , composite material , organic chemistry , catalysis , chemistry , metallurgy , physics , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics , engineering
ZnO/MCM-41 composites consisting of loose particles with an irregular, wrinkled surface and flower-like morphology were obtained by adding MCM-41 to a mixture of zinc nitrate hexahydrate and hexamethylenetetramine under hydrothermal conditions. The physical properties of this composite were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The XRD analysis showed the characteristic diffractogram corresponding to silica overlapped with ZnO peaks, with a reduction in the sharpness and peak intensity, which may be the result of spatial disorder and defects, combined with anisotropic preferential growth. The FTIR spectrum had the characteristic vibrations expected for a silica framework, containing adsorbed water molecules, nitrate ions, and Zn–O bonds. This novel structure may be of particular interest from both fundamental and applied perspectives. It can be advantageous for the adsorption and capture of small molecules. Therefore, it may improve the performance of some previously investigated uses for these ZnO/MCM-41composites, such as photocatalysis and adsorbents for pollutants removal. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that wrinkled ZnO/MCM-41 nanocomposite obtained by a low-cost and easy method is reported.