The Special Modifiers Containing N-Trimellitylimido-L-Amino Acids for the Surface Modification of Nano ZrO₂

Abstract

The most important difficulties about nanoparticles (NPs) in liquid media involve stabilizing them. So, it is necessary to modify the NPs surface by modifiers to generate an effective repulsive force between them. Dispersion of NPs will influence their application property. In this study, the authors used a kind of bioactive dicarboxylic acid as modifier. Surface-functionalized zirconia NPs were prepared using dicarboxylic acid containing different amino acids as coupling agents. Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry analysis, and transmission electron microscopy were performed on prepared samples to show successfully modification of nano ZrO₂.

Keywords:

• nanostructures
• semiconductors
• thermogravimetric analysis
• TGA
• X-ray diffraction
• XRD
• transmission electron microscopy
• TEM

Funding

The authors wish to express our appreciation to the Research Affairs Division, Isfahan University of Technology (IUT), for partial financial support to undertake this work. Further financial support from the Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC), National Elite Foundation (NEF), and Center of Excellence in Sensors and Green Chemistry Research (IUT) is gratefully acknowledged.