Synthesis and Characterization of ZrO2 nanoparticles in ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-
methylimidazodium trifluoromethanesulfonate [EmimTfO]

Ayi A. Ayi[1] , Chinyere A. Anyama[2], Samuel S. Etuk[3]
Page No. 26-32

The chemical synthesis of zirconia nanoparticles in ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazodium
trifluoromethanesulfonate (EmimOTf) is reported. The nanoparticles obtained were characterized
by XRD, SEM/TEM, UV-Vis and IR analytical techniques. The XRD pattern of the sample gathered
after centrifugation shows two broad humps at ca. 31.48o and 49.28o and weak diffraction peaks
at 17.451 and 78.91o. The reflections are assigned to the (100), (111), (022) and (330) planes of
monoclinic space group P21/c (14) (JCPDS 86-1449). SEM shows that the precipitates are a
mixture of plates, rods and faceted particles. TEM and UV/Vis suggests that nanoparticles have
been formed. The infrared spectroscopy shows that molecules of the ionic liquid are adsorbed on
the surface of the particles as indicated by absorption bands between ca. 3117 -2880 cm-1 along
with the bands between 1575 and 1387 cm-1 assigned to C–H stretching and in-plane vibrations of
the imidazolium ring, respectively. The bands between 1263 and 1033 cm-1 can be assigned to
aliphatic in-plane vibrations, and the bands between 850 and 520cm-1 are due to Zr-O bond.