Synthesis of Fe-doped ZnO Particle/polymer Hybrid from Metalorganics

An Fe-doped ZnO particle/polymer hybrid was synthesized from zinc acrylate (ZA) and iron allylacetylacetonate (IAA) using methylhydrazine. Nanocrystalline ZnO particles were formed in the organic matrix by hydrolysis and polymerization of ZA itself below 100 °C. The crystallinity of undoped ZnO particles in the hybrid was dependent upon the synthesis conditions. Similarly, the ZnO phase was observed for the product formed from ZA-IAA. Transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis revealed that crystalline ZnO nanoparticles doped with Fe were dispersed in the organic matrix. The absorption edge of the undoped ZnO particle/polymer hybrid was blue-shifted with the decrease in size of the ZnO particles. On the other hand, the Fe-doped ZnO particle/polymer hybrid from ZA-IAA revealed a bathochromic shift of the absorption edge up to 600 nm.