ZnO-Ag Composite Nanocrystals from Nanoemulsion: Synthesis, Magnetic, and Optical Properties

Abstract

We report a simple approach to synthesize ZnO-Ag composite nanocrystals with different ZnO/Ag ratios via a nanoemulsion process. The morphology and structure of the nanocrystals are investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, showing the high crystallinity of the nanocrystals with narrow size distributions. The corresponding optical and magnetic properties are analyzed with photoluminescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectrometry and physical property measurement system in detail. The ensuing magnetism is interpreted in terms of nanosizing and other effects. Such ZnO-Ag nanocrystals may be further explored for biomedical applications and spintronic devices with interesting optical and magnetic properties. (C) 2013 The Japan Society of Applied Physics