Sol–gel synthesis, optical and structural characterization of ZrOS nanopowder

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology Vol. 71; no. 1; pp. 79 - 85
• Main Authors: Uduh, U. C., Obodo, R. M., Esaenwi, S., Amaechi, C. I., Asogwa, P. U., Osuji, R. U., Ezema, F. I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-07-2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorbance; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colloidal gels. Colloidal sols; Colloidal state and disperse state; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Glass; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials Science; Morphology; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Natural Materials; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Paper; Oxalates; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Preferred orientation; Refractivity; Scanning electron microscopy; Sol gel process; Sol-gel processes; Structural analysis; Synthesis; X-rays; Zirconium; Zirconium dioxide; Anionic oxalate complex; Absorbance; Tetragonal ZrOS nanopowder; Sol–gel technique; Characterization; Sol―gel technique; Synthesis; Nanoparticle; Oxalate; Sol gel process; Anionic complex; Nanopowder; Powder
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-014-3331-7

In this paper, we report the synthesis of tetragonal zirconium oxysulfide
t
-ZrOS nanopowder by the sol–gel method using water solution of a precursor containing thiourea [CS(NH
2
)
2
] and zirconium in the form of an anionic oxalate complex [Zr(C
2
O
4
)]
4−
. The tetragonal
t
-ZrOS structure with space group P4/nmm revealed by X-ray patterns showed preferred orientation along (101) plane. For surface morphology, compositional and optical absorption studies, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy were employed for characterization of the powder respectively. A nearly constant value of the refractive index at higher wavelength λ ≥ 1,100 nm was found to be 2.19. High indirect and direct optical band gap of ~2.0 and 2.50 eV with absorbance <40 % were obtained for the powder.