Regensburg 2025 – scientific programme
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MM: Fachverband Metall- und Materialphysik
MM 9: Poster
MM 9.16: Poster
Monday, March 17, 2025, 18:30–20:30, P1
EXAFS-driven Investigation of ZnO-Mn2O3 and ZnO-Mn2O3-rGO Nanocomposites: Unraveling Structural, Optical, and Electronic Properties — •Shaimaa A. Habib1, Shehab E. Ali2, Messaoud Harfouche3, and Ahmed Awad4 — 11.*Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Damnhour University, Damanhour 22516, Egypt — 2Materials Science Laboratory, Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt. — 3SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East), Allan, Jordan — 4Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
The structural, optical, and electronic properties of ZnO-Mn2O3 and ZnO-Mn2O3-rGO nanocomposites were investigated. The materials, synthesized via sol-gel and self-propagation methods, exhibited porous structures with crystallite sizes of 22-48 nm, as confirmed by XRD and SEM analyses. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed that rGO incorporation reduced the optical bandgap from 2.63 eV to 1.86 eV and increased the Urbach energy from 1.91 eV to 2.55 eV. The Wemple-DiDomenico model showed a decrease in oscillator resonance energy from 6.64 eV to 6.15 eV and an increase in dispersion energy from 6.47 eV to 13.24 eV. EXAFS and XANES studies at SESAME synchrotron facility provided insights into the coordination environment and electronic structure of the metal centers. This comprehensive characterization establishes a foundation for applying these nanocomposites in optoelectronics, photocatalysis, and energy conversion applications, highlighting rGO's role in enhancing composite performance.
Keywords: EXAFS; Nanoparticles; Photocatalysis; Conversion energy; Porous structure