Ricerc@Sapienza

Photoacoustic spectroscopy investigation was carried out on ZnO nanoparticles grown at 80 °C on porous surface of diatomite (DE) by sol–gel technique, using zinc acetate dihydrate as ceramic precursor and triethanolamine to mediate the surface growth of the nanoparticles. Absorption and scattering characteristics of hybrid ZnO/DE powder in the UV–Vis range were inferred by photoacoustic spectroscopy, and results were analyzed based on Helander’s theory.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized on diatomite (DE) surface by a low
temperature sol gel technique, starting from zinc acetate dihydrate (Zn(CH3COO)2?·?2H2O)
solution in water/ethyl alcohol, in presence of triethanolamine (TEA) with functions of Zn2+
chelating agent, catalyst and mediator of nanoparticle growth on DE surface. Microstructural
features were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction.
ZnO crystalline nanoparticles, well distributed both on the surface and into the porous