Effect of Polymers (PEG and PVP)‎ on Sol-Gel Synthesis of Microsized Zinc Oxide

Abstract EN

Fibers irregular and seed-like microcrystalline ZnO were synthesized by using a cost-effective and low temperature aqueous sol-gel method.

Various polymers, namely, polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), were used as structure directing agents.

The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The X-ray diffraction pattern revealed the formation of phase-pure ZnO micropowders.

It is observed that the polymers play an important role in modifying the surface morphology and the size of the crystallites.

A compact granular morphology is observed for the ZnO samples without polymer.

The samples exhibit microparticles of size 100 nm for PVP and for PEG-mediated growth, whereas microporous corrugated morphology is observed for added PEG-mediated micropowder.

FTIR study is used to confirm the structural modifications occurring in the polymers.