(513b) Molecular Synthesis and Characterisation of Nanoparticles Using IR Spectrometry

Ibrahim Kadafur & Engr. Dr. M. N. Idris*; MAIChE, AMIChemE, MNSE

Energy & Process Refining Technology Group

Department of Chemical Engineering

University of Maiduguri

Borno State, Nigeria

Tel: +234 (0) 705 877 1096

Email: idrismn@unimaid.edu.ng, muhinu@hotmail.co.uk

ABSTRACT

In nanotechnology, a particle is defined as a small object that behaves as a whole unit with respect to its transport and properties. These particles are further classified according to their diameter. Coarse particles cover a range between 10,000 and 2,500 nanometres. Fine particles are sized between 2,500 and 100 nanometres.

There are several methods used in the synthesis of nanoparticles, which includes the reduction of some chemical reagents, attrition and pyrolysis. In attrition, macro- or micro- scale particles are ground in a ball mill, a planetary ball mill, or other size reducing mechanism.

In this study, the FT-IR was used to characterize the nanoparticles synthesized. The IR analysis has shown some of the properties of the nanoparticles in terms of wave number, maximum and minimum absorbance and transmittance, nature of bonds likely to be found and the amount of vibrational peaks in the spectrum. 

            It is also observed that the aggregation is one of the major problems of these nanoparticles, a clear indication can be seen from the results obtained using the FT-IR spectrometry; were the nanoparticle aggregation has effect on absorbance, transmittance, number of peaks and even the nature of bonds likely to be found within the samples.

Keywords: Synthesis, Characterization FT-IR, Nanoparticles & Aggregation

Correspondence about this article: Please for all correspondence on this article, kindly contact the principal author as stated above. Thank you.