SYNTHESIS OF METAL OXIDE NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR SURFACE MODIFICATION for ELECTROCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES

Abstract

An extensive survey of metal oxide nanoparticles suggested there is enormous scope to explore their chemistry and applications (Chapter I). Metal oxides such as CeO2 and ZnO have been studied for their applications in biology and electrochemistry. As discussed in the literature controlling particle size and morphology by different synthetic route one can enhance the properties of these oxides (Chapter II). Though number of synthetic routes for the synthesis of these two oxides are well explored still it remains a challenge to synthesize these oxides in nano dimension with relatively economical method. In this thesis we have therefore, investigated the synthesis of these two oxides by different routes such as aqueous precipitation synthesis, polyol synthesis and microwave mediated synthesis. During the course of our initial investigation, it was observed that microwave mediated hydrothermal synthesis and microwave mediated solvothermal synthesis results in the synthesis of single newline