Synthesis and room temperature photoluminescence of ZnO/CTAB ordered layered nanocomposite with flake-like architecture

Flake-like ZnO/surfactant ordered layered nanocomposite has been synthesized by self-assembly at room temperature with the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB, CH3(CH2)15N+(CH3)3Br−) surfactant. The procedure described in this study is attractive since it gives high yields of ordered layered nanocomposite with flake-like architecture. XRD results showed the formation of a layered structure with two layered spacings ca. 18.56 Å. SEM and FT-IR spectroscopy were used to further characterize ZnO/CTAB nanolayered composite. The ZnO/CTAB-ordered layered nanocomposite exhibits the room temperature photoluminescence (RTPL) characteristics. It is inferred that the RTPL of ZnO/CTAB-layered nanocomposite might be induced by the interfacial effect between the ZnO and the surfactant.