Structural Comparative Analysis of Nanocomposite Materials Comprising Mg, Zn, and Co Synthesized via Sono-electrochemical and Hydrothermal Approaches

Abstract

Nanocomposites based on magnesium (Mg), Zinc (Zn), and cobalt (Co) were synthesized using sonochemical and hydrothermal techniques. The structural properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the nanocomposites synthesized via the sonochemical method exhibited a complex crystalline structure comprising various crystalline phases: MgO, ZnO, Co3O4, and the binary phase Mg-Zn. In contrast, the nanocomposites obtained through the hydrothermal method showed only three phases: MgO, ZnO, and Co3O4. Furthermore, each exhibits distinct crystallite sizes. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine the nanoparticle morphology, revealing octahedron-shaped nanoparticles with different average sizes for the nanocomposites obtained through the sonochemical method, while the hydrothermal method resulted in a mixture of rod and sheet morphologies with varying average sizes. Additionally, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized for sample characterization, revealing the presence of different functional groups in the nanocomposites.