Structural and electrical properties of TiO2/ZnO core–shell nanoparticles synthesized by hydrothermal method

•TiO2/ZnO core–shell nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method.•TiO2/ZnO core–shell nanoparticles were investigated by means of XRD, TEM and BET.•Electrical properties of TiO2/ZnO core–shell nanoparticles were investigated.•The activation energy of TiO2/ZnO core–shell nanoparticles was about Ea = 101 meV.

TiO2/ZnO core–shell nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method in two stages: first stage is the hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and second stage the obtained ZnO nanoparticles are encapsulated in TiO2. The obtained ZnO, TiO2 and TiO2/ZnO core–shell nanoparticles were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer, Emmett, Teller and resistance measurements. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of both, TiO2 and ZnO phases in TiO2/ZnO core–shell nanoparticles. According to transmission electron microscopy images, ZnO nanoparticles have hexagonal shapes, TiO2 nanoparticles have a spherical shape, and TiO2/ZnO core–shell nanoparticles present agglomerates and the shape of particles is not well defined. The activation energy of TiO2/ZnO core–shell nanoparticles was about 101 meV.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide