Characterization of pure phase Zn(II) oxide nanoparticles via thermal decomposition of two zinc(II) complexes of the 6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine ligand

Two zinc(II) complexes [Zn(6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipy)Cl2]n (1) and [Zn(6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipy)I2]n (2) are synthesized from the reaction of the 6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipy ligand with ZnCl2 and ZnI2. Zinc(II) oxide nanoparticles are synthesized by the thermolysis of [Zn(6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipy)Cl2]n (1) and [Zn(6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipy)I2]n (2) at two different temperatures. The ZnO nanoparticles are characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images show the average size of the ZnO nanoparticles produced of 50 nm and 60 nm in compounds 1 and 2 respectively.