Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 28 No 5 (2024): 1102 - 1114

 

RAPID SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF VERTICALLY-ALIGNED ZINC OXIDE NANOWIRES BY HYBRID MICROWAVE-ASSISTED SONOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUE

 

(Sintesis Pantas dan Pencirian Nanowayar Zink Oksida Menegak Sejajar oleh Teknik Hibrid Sonokimia Dibantu Ketuhar Gelombang Mikro)

 

Maryam Mohammad1,2,3, Mohd Firdaus Malek2,3,*, Muhammad Faizal Abd Halim2,3, Irmaizatussyehdany Buniyamin2,3, Nur Fairuz Rostan2,3, Nurul Zulaikha Mohammad Zamri2,3, Nurfatini Atiqrah Khairul Azhar2,3, Zahidah Othman2,3, Rabiatuladawiyah Md Akhir2,3, Kevin Alvin Eswar3,5, Mohamad Hafiz Mamat4, Zuraida Khusaimi2,3, and Mohamad Rusop Mahmood2,3,4

 

1Department of Physics, Faculty of Applied Sciences,Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch, Tapah Campus, 35400 Tapah Road, Perak, Malaysia

2School of Physics and Materials Studies, Faculty of Applied Sciences

3NANO-SciTech Lab (NST), Centre for Functional Materials and Nanotechnology (FMN), Institute of Science (IOS)

4NANO-ElecTronic Centre (NET), Faculty of Electrical Engineering,Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

5Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sabah Branch, Tawau Campus, 91032 Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: mfmalek07@uitm.edu.my; mfmalek07@gmail.com

 

Received: 20 September 2023; Accepted: 30 June 2024; Published:  27 October 2024

 

 

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) have attracted a lot of attention due to their special characteristics and wide range of uses in nanoelectronics, photonics, sensing, and energy harvesting. Conventional synthesis methods for ZnO NWs often face challenges, such as slow reaction times, limited control over NW shape, and poor scalability. Therefore, it is imperative to develop an advanced synthesis technique that can rapidly produce ZnO NWs while allowing precise control over their structural and functional characteristics. In this study, ZnO NWs were successfully synthesized using a hybrid microwave-assisted sonochemical technique (HMAST) using zinc acetate dihydrate as the starting material. The optimized parameters were set at a solution concentration of 12.5 mM and microwave deposition power of 600 W. The deposition time was varied from 15 to 90 min, and the effect of different deposition times on the morphological, structural, and optical properties of the ZnO NWs was also studied. The samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The results revealed the production of aligned, uniformly distributed hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO NWs with an average diameter size of approximately 31.9 nm. The XRD spectra indicated highly crystalline ZnO NWs, showing the sharpest and narrowest intensity of (002) peaks. The UV-Vis spectra showed high transmittance spectra and a sharp absorption edge, suggesting the smaller particle size of ZnO and strong absorbance in the UV region. From the findings, it can be confirmed that the properties of ZnO NWs produced are controllable by adjusting the deposition time in the HMAST, leading to the formation of high-quality ZnO NWs.

 

Keywords: zinc oxide, nanowires, nanostructures, microwave-assisted, sonochemical

Abstrak

Nanowayar zink oksida (ZnO NWs) telah menarik banyak perhatian kerana ciri-ciri istimewa dan pelbagai kegunaan mereka dalam bidang nanoelektronik, fotonik, penderiaan, dan pengumpulan tenaga. Kaedah sintesis konvensional untuk ZnO NWs sering menghadapi masalah seperti waktu tindak balas yang lambat, kawalan yang terhad terhadap pembentukan NWs, dan kebolehskalaan yang kurang baik. Oleh itu, teknik sintesis yang canggih yang boleh menghasilkan ZnO NWs dalam masa yang lebih singkat dan mempunyai kawalan yang baik terhadap ciri-ciri struktur dan fungsi mereka adalah penting untuk dicipta. Dalam kajian ini, ZnO NWs telah berjaya disintesis melalui teknik hibrid sonokimia berbantu gelombang mikro (HMAST) dengan menggunakan zink asetat dihidrat sebagai bahan pemula. Parameter yang dioptimumkan ditetapkan pada kepekatan larutan 12.5 mM dan kuasa pengendapan gelombang mikro 600 W. Masa pengendapan diubah dari 15 hingga 90 min, dan kesan perubahan masa pengendapan ke atas sifat morfologi, struktur, dan optik ZnO NWs juga telah dikaji. Sampel-sampel dicirikan oleh mikroskopi elektron pengimbasan pancaran medan (FESEM), pembelauan sinar-X (XRD), dan spektroskopi ultraungu-tampak (UV-Vis). Hasil kajian menunjukkan struktur heksagon wurtzit ZnO NWs yang sejajar dan teragih dengan baik telah dihasilkan, dengan saiz diameter purata lebih kurang 31.9 nm. Spektrum XRD menunjukkan bahawa ZnO NWs yang dihasilkan mempunyai kehabluran yang sangat tinggi dan menunjukkan puncak (002) yang paling tajam dan lebih halus. Spektrum UV-Vis menunjukkan spektrum kepancaran yang tinggi berserta kesan penyerapan yang jelas, menunjukkan saiz zarah ZnO yang lebih kecil serta penyerapan yang tinggi dalam julat UV. Berdasarkan penemuan ini,  sifat-sifat ZnO NWs yang dihasilkan dapat disahkan boleh dikawal dengan mengubah masa pengendapan bagi kaedah HMAST, seterusnya membawa kepada pembentukan ZnO NWs yang lebih berkualiti.

 

Kata kunci: zink oksida, nanowayar, nanostruktur, bantuan gelombang mikro, sonokimia

 

 

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