Copper-Dopped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesis by a Fast Polymer Precursor Based Method

Reference	Presenter	Authors (Institution)	Abstract
12-024	Diógenes Ferreira Almeida	Almeida, D.F.(Universidade Federal de Alfenas); Garcia, L.A.(Universidade Federal de Alfenas);	Nanostructured doped ZnO synthesis have recently received attention due the enhanced and new properties showed by the nanoparticles, which can be applied in UV detector, varistor, gas sensor, photocatalytic properties, optics, anti-bactericidal activity, among others. The doping of this material with effective metal elements can modify the grain size, crystalline structure, phase and also improve as optical and electromagnetic properties, exhibiting ferromagnetism at room temperature. In the present work, nanostructured Cu doped-ZnO was synthesized by a modified fast polymeric precursor method based on soluble polymer. This method involved a water-based complexation of Zn and Cu by soluble polyacrylate, with concentration of Cu ranging from 0.1 to 5.0%-mol. The solution was dried and calcined by 120 minutes at 400, 450, 500 and 550 °C. The temperatures or thermal decomposition were determined using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). A Fourier-Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) was proceeded to determine how was the calcination process and the molecular structures of calcined by-products. The stoichiometry was confirmed by X-ray fluorescence, performed at LNLS (FRX beamline). X-Ray Diffraction was performed at LNLS (XRD1 beamline), showing very crystalline pattern, specially the powders thermally decomposed at 550 °C. Using Scherrer inference calculated from diffractogram peaks, nanoparticles under 50 nm are present. Scanning Electron Microscopy was also employed to study the morphology of the particles. This process yielded the synthesis of nanoparticles in very short time of about six hours, faster than conventional polymeric precursor methods as Pechini and sol-gel, and no ageing step was needed.
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