Microwave assisted hydrothermal synthesis of Ag-ZnO nano-micro structures: Comparison of closed and open vessel reactor influence on nitrate solution preparation route

Abstract

Various Ag-ZnO nanostructures were synthesized by open vessel microwave system MWG1K-10 with reflux system and by pressurized microwave system CEM MARS 5. The material was prepared by microwave synthesis using soluble silver and zinc salts as source materials and hexamethylenetetramine as precipitating agent for ZnO and reducing agent for Ag. Influence of Ag+ ions, reaction condition and pressure by the pressurized microwave system on formation of particle microstructure was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analyse (EDX) and powder X-ray difractometry (XRD) was used in order to investigate the morphology, phase composition and crystalline structure.