Synthesis and Characterization of Nano Sized ZnO and CdO by Direct Thermal Decomposition of Their Nano Sized Metal Schiff base Complexes

Abstract

Nano sized metal oxide; ZnO and CdO have been synthesized by the thermal decomposition of two Schiff base complexes. Zinc and cadmium Schiff base complexes have been synthesized at reflux condition by the reaction between bidentate Schiff base ligand (E)-2-((4-methoxyphenylimino) methyl) phenol and nitrate salts of Zn or Cd in acetonitrile as a solvent. The nanoparticles of the title complexes were obtained using the ultrasonic irradiation method in acetonitrile as an anti-solvent of the Zn and Cd metal complexes, and also using spectroscopy and physicochemical methods including FT-IR, UV-Vis, elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM). The .nanoparticles (NPs) of ZnO and CdO with the average size of 27 and 32 nm were prepared by thermal decomposition of the title nano metal complexes. The metal oxide was identified by XRD pattern and SEM images.