Cost-effective methods for preparing ZnO nanostructures are of importance for the deployment of ZnO in many applications including n-type conduits, catalysts, nanophosphor, and optoelectronics. Herein, we present a room-temperature sol-gel method with the aid of ultrasonication to prepare white-emitting ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). X-ray diffraction and electron microscopic analyses revealed that the size and shape of ZnO NPs can be controlled simply by changing the concentration of the Zn precursor. The ZnO NPs had a broad photoluminescence emission, ranging from 450 nm to 800 nm, while their composite in PMMA matrix showed an enhancement in the red region induced by ZnO-PMMA interfacial band-bending effects. The results demonstrated herein promise a simple tool for control over size, shape, and emission of ZnO materials for diverse applications.
Over the past few years, ionic liquids (ILs) have been widely reported as reaction media for reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). In particular, almost all the ILs with the structure [Hmim][RCOO] (R represents an alkyl group) have been used as ligands for a reverse ATRP system. However, the facile, simple and low-cost ILs, 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazole chloride ([Rmim][Cl]), have rarely been employed as ligands for reverse ATRP. In this article, a [Rmim][Cl] was successfully employed as a ligand for the reverse ATRP of methyl methacrylate with Fe(III) as catalyst and 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The key to success is to adjust the FeCl3/[Rmim][Cl] molar ratio value to 1 : 1. The results indicated that the polymerization with [Rmim][Cl] as a ligand proceeded in a controlled/“living” fashion, as evidenced by the first-order kinetic plot, low polydispersity index values, and increase in polymer molecular weight with monomer conversion. The effects of various experimental parameters, including different catalysts, reaction temperatures, solvents, and molar ratios of FeCl3/[Rmim][Cl], on the polymerization were investigated in detail. Furthermore, 1H NMR and gel permeation chromatography analyses confirmed the halogen-containing chain-end functionality of the resultant polymer.