Investigation of the effect of precursor ratios on the solution combustion synthesis of zinc zirconate nanocomposite

Zinc zirconate nanocomposite was synthesized by a low-temperature solution combustion method using citric acid as fuel at a pH of 7. The synthesis was done by varying the ratios of zirconium butoxide and zinc nitrate, which were the precursors in this study. The samples were calcined at 600 °C for 2 h then their structural and optical characteristics investigated. The analysis showed that the nanocomposite consisted of mixed phases of zinc zirconate, zinc oxide, and zirconium oxide. As the Zn(2+)/Zr(4+) ratio increased, the highly agglomerated morphologies gradually developed crystalline aggregates mixed with nanorods. A red-shifted blue emission with a peak at 409 nm was observed in the photoluminescence spectra and the composites had an energy bandgap between 2.81 and 3.12 eV.