A Novel Synthesis of Nanostructured ZnO via Thermal Oxidation of Zn Nanowires Obtained by a Green Route
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Abstract
ZnO nanowires were synthesised in a green and novel, two-step process: (1) the production of Zn nanowires by carbo-thermal reduction of a mixture of ZnO/biopitch (Eucalyptus sp. tar pitch) at 900°C for 1 h in a quartz tube placed in an electric furnace in a N2 atmosphere and (2) the oxidation of the as-prepared Zn nanowires in air at 300°C for 3 h and 6 h and at 400°C for 3 h. The structural properties and phase compositions of the oxidised samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the morphologies were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD results demonstrated the formation of ZnO phase, as the main product. The oxidised products exhibited good crystallinity. Maximal conversion of the Zn nanowires into ZnO nanowires (99%) resulted from oxidation of the sample for 3 h in air at 300°C. The formation of ZnO was also confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
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