Physico-chemical characterization of nanosized powders obtained by mechanical processing

Full text: The sol-gel process presents an interesting alternative for the preparation of thin films for solar radiation absorption. This process requires less financial support and is easy to perform, especially when compared to the processes of physical vapor deposition. However, the morphological control of the coating deposited by sol-gel, especially considering its final thickness and its roughness, it is still an aspect to be improved, given the direct influence of these parameters on the optical behavior of the film. In this work, ceramic industrial wastes from northeastern Brazil, raw material for preparation of thin films by sol-gel, were processed by sieving and by high energy ball milling. With the mechanical processing was possible to obtain nanosized powders, allowing better control of the morphology of the coatings. These nanopowders were characterized physically and chemically from analysis of X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy X-ray (EDS), UV-Vis Spectroscopy and FTIR Spectroscopy. With the results it was possible to evaluate the influence of particle size and morphology on the optical behavior of the studied ceramic waste. (author)