Preparation of nanostructure CuO/ZnO mixed oxide by sol–gel thermal decomposition of a CuCO3 and ZnCO3: TG, DTG, XRD, FESEM and DRS investigations

Abstract Nanostructure CuO/ZnO mixed oxide was systematically prepared via the sol–gel route using zinc and copper carbonates as precursors (molar ratio of 2:1) under thermal decomposition. The zinc and copper carbonates precursors have been synthesized by a simple chemical reaction in high yield and characterized by its melting point, FT-IR and thermal analysis (TG/DTG). The TG/DTG analysis proved that the thermal decomposition of zinc and copper carbonates precursors at 255 °C and 289 °C respectively. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG-DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) studies were undertaken to investigate the thermal properties and electronic structure of the CuO/ZnO mixed oxide catalysts. XRD data of the samples proved the formation of the nano-crystalline CuO/ZnO mixed oxide. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the spherical-like particles have a diameter in the range 35–45 nm. Optical spectra of the nanostructure show a band peaked at 1.35 eV which is associated to near band gap transitions of CuO and a band centered at about 3.00 eV related to band gap transitions of ZnO nanostructures.