Synthesis and characterization of ZnO/silica aerogel nanocomposites.

ZnO nanoparticles have interesting characteristics and potential applications in various lines of life. However, its size and weak compatibility can cause aggregation. Therefore, ZnO nanoparticles are composited with silica aerogel as a buffer matrix to enhance the potential function of ZnO to form ZnO/silica aerogel nanocomposites. The nanocomposite was synthesized using the molten salt method by involving the main precursor ZnCl2 which was calcined at 450 °C together with a silica aerogel buffer matrix in various calcination time variations. The success of synthesis based on FT-IR analysis is shown by the presence of vibration groups of silanol (Si-OH), siloxane (Si-O-Si), and Zn-O vibrations from the ZnO lattice. The inclusion of ZnO nanoparticles in the silica aerogel matrix is indicated by the presence of a peak in the XRD test that relates to ZnO standard peak (JCPDS No.36-1451). The analysis results based on X-Ray Fluorescence showed that the optimum percentage of ZnO formation in the silica matrix occurred at 40 minutes of calcination time. Mapping of the synthesized results showed the presence of ZnO nanoparticles scattered on the silica aerogel matrix. ZnO nanoparticles experienced a fairly homogeneous distribution on the silica aerogel matrix with 70% of Zn composited with the size of the nanocomposite particles produced ranging from 25-72 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]