Zinc Oxide/ Silver Sulfide (ZnO/Ag₂S) Core-Shell Type Composite for Wide Range Absorption of Visible Spectra: Synthesis and Characterization

Abstract:

This work presents the synthesis of zinc oxide /silver sulfide (ZnO/Ag₂S) core/shell type composite; using combined wet chemical precipitation method and ion exchange mechanism; for wide range absorption of visible spectra by the composite. Synthesis is performed in three steps. In the first step; ZnO nanoparticles (nanocores) are produced, in the second step; ZnS layer is deposited over ZnO nanocores and in the third step; Zn from ZnS is replaced by Ag to form Ag₂S shell over ZnO; using ion exchange mechanism. The presence of reflection peaks of ZnO and Ag₂S in XRD spectra confirms the formation of ZnO/Ag₂S composite. SEM image of ZnO shows the formation of near spherical ZnO nanoparticles of diameter in range 256nm to 584nm with a smooth surface, while SEM image of ZnO/Ag₂S composite shows the formation of Ag₂S layer over ZnO cores as indicated by rougher and contrasted surface as compared to bare ZnO cores. Also, the size of composite particles became larger than ZnO nanocores (100µm-200µm), which further confirms the formation of Ag₂S shell over ZnO nanocores. The optical absorption spectrums of both ZnO and ZnO/Ag₂S composite clearly indicate that synthesized composite absorb strongly in UV to IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum as compared to ZnO nanocores; which absorb only in UV region. Therefore, the synthesized composite could be used as a photovoltaic material.

• Periodical: Nano Hybrids and Composites (Volume 25)
• Pages: 84-89
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/NHC.25.84
• Online since: April 2019
• Authors: Afaf Mohammad Babeer, Lubna Aamir*
• Keywords: Ion Exchange Mechanism, Photovoltaic Material, Semiconductor Composite, Wet Chemical Precipitation, Zinc Oxide-Silver Sulphide Composite

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