METHOD OF MAKING CARBON-ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES

Abstract

The method of making carbon-zinc oxide (C—ZnO) nanoparticles includes grinding a mixture of zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2O) and furfural (C.sub.4H.sub.3OCHO) to produce a ground mixture. As a non-limiting example, the zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2O) and the furfural (C.sub.4H.sub.3OCHO) may be placed in a mortar and ground, by hand with a pestle, for approximately 10 minutes. The ground mixture is then heated to produce the C—ZnO nanoparticles. As a non-limiting example, the ground mixture may be heated in a quartz tube at a temperature of approximately 500° C.

Claims

1. A method of making carbon-zinc oxide nanoparticles, comprising the steps of: grinding a mixture of zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2O)and furfural (C.sub.4H.sub.3OCHO) to produce a ground mixture; and heating the ground mixture to produce carbon-zinc oxide nanoparticles, the carbon-zinc oxide nanoparticles range from about 2 nm to about 5 nm.

2. The method of making carbon-zinc oxide nanoparticles as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of grinding the mixture of the zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2O)and furfural (C.sub.4H.sub.3OCHO) comprises grinding for 10 minutes.

3. The method of making carbon-zinc oxide nanoparticles as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of heating the ground mixture comprises heating the ground mixture in a quartz tube.

4. The method of making carbon-zinc oxide nanoparticles as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of heating the ground mixture comprises heating the ground mixture at a temperature of 500° C.

5-13. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The sole drawing FIGURE shows steps of a method of making carbon-zinc oxide (C—ZnO) nanoparticles.

[0007] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] The method of making carbon-zinc oxide (C—ZnO) nanoparticles can include grinding a mixture of zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2O)and furfural (C.sub.4H.sub.3OCHO) (indicated as 10 in the sole drawing FIGURE) to produce a ground mixture 12. As a non-limiting example, the zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2O)and the furfural (C.sub.4H.sub.3OCHO) may be ground in a mortar by hand using a pestle, for approximately 10 minutes. Within the ground mixture, there can be a complex formation between the respective inorganic and organic moieties (indicated as 14 in the sole drawing FIGURE). The ground mixture is then heated to produce the C—ZnO nanoparticles 16. Furfural provides a carbon source and prevents the agglomeration of ZnO nanoparticles. As a non-limiting example, the ground mixture may be heated in a quartz tube at a temperature of approximately 500° C. within a furnace or the like. The C—ZnO nanoparticles can be crystalline and mesoporous.

[0009] The C—ZnO nanoparticles can provide outstanding degradation of organic pollutants, e.g., organic dyes, in an aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. For example, the C—ZnO nanoparticles showed greater photocatalytic performance in degradation of a model RhB dye under visible light irradiation than P—Zno.

[0010] In experiments, 1 g of zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO.sub.3).sub.2.6H.sub.2O)was mixed with 1 mL of furfural (C.sub.4H.sub.3OCHO) and ground for 10 minutes by hand grinding with a mortar and pestle. The ground mixture was then transferred into a quartz tube and heated at 500° C., producing C-ZnO nanoparticles with an average particle size between approximately 2 nm and 5 nm. For purposes of comparison, pure furfural (without zinc nitrate hexahydrate) was prepared in a similar manner, resulting in no nanoparticles. Similarly, pure zinc nitrate hexahydrate (without furfural) was prepared in a similar manner, resulting in particles having an average particle size of 5 μm. as opposed to nanoparticles.

[0011] It is to be understood that the method of making carbon-zinc oxide nanoparticles is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter.