Investigation Photoluminescence Property of ZnO / PANI Nanocomposite Synthesized in​ [EtOHMIM+] [HSO4-] Ionic Liquid and CTAB Surfactant

In the present work, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using hydrothermal method with Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) as surfactant in 1- (hydroxyethyl)-3- methylimidazolium sulfate [EtOHMIM+] [HSO-] ionic liquid (IL). ZnO / PANI nanocomposite was prepared via in situ polymerization. The structures of the modified ZnO particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and, scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optical properties of (ZnO / PANI) nanocomposite were examined by photoluminescence (PL) analysis. XRD and, Raman analysis confirmed that pure ZnO (NPs) synthesized with (CTAB) in [EtOHMIM+] [HSO-] IL were formed. The addition of (CTAB) and [EtOHMIM+] [HSO-] IL does not change the ZnO phase but reduces the particle size of ZnO and converts shallow defects to deep defects. The SEM images of the ZnO / PANI nanocomposite showed the formation of hexagonal wurtzite ZnO (NPs) embedded in polyaniline matrix. The PL intensity of the ZnO / PANI nanocomposite is improved as compared to pure ZnO (NPs). This indicates that [EtOHMIM+] [HSO4-] IL may be acting as a dye, since it is constituted by an organic part, [EtOHMIM+]. This good performance indicates that the synthesised nanocompsite is promising material as photoanode in solar cells.