DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v25i3.295

Keywords: Structural; morphological; niobium pentoxide; silver carbonate; precipitation

Abstract

Ag-based semiconductor materials have recently attracted the attention and research efforts of many material scientists due to its broad range of applications. This study aimed to examine the effect of incorporation of niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) to the structural and morphological properties of silver carbonate (Ag2CO3). The synthesis and evaluation on Ag2CO3, Nb2O5, and Ag2CO3/Nb2O5 composite were discussed in detailed. Ag2CO3, Nb2O5, and Ag2CO3/Nb2O5 composite were synthesized by facile precipitation method at room temperature and were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and Field Emission Electron Microscopy (FESEM) for its structural and morphological properties. XRD patterns revealed that both Ag2CO3 and Nb2O5 have monoclinic crystal structure. FT-IR analysis showed the existence of CO32-, C–O and Nb=O groups, as well as the formation of bridging Nb–O–Nb in the composite matrix. Morphological analysis showed that the Nb2O5 particles were irregular spherical- shaped and were well-distributed on the surface of irregular short rod structure of Ag2CO3.