Soft templated zinc oxide nanostructures and their colloidal assemblies for optical, capacitive and ionic impurity capturing applications

A co-operative non-aqueous self-assembly route has been demonstrated to prepare zinc glycolate complexes those are further used to engineer zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs spherical, ≈ 60–80 nm). Lyotropic nanocolloids are prepared via dispersing the different amount of ZnO nanoparticles (0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 wt%) in non-aqueous lyotropic phases. Hexagonal to lamellar phase transition has been observed in the lyotropic nanocolloids with the addition of ZnO NPs as confirmed from the structural characterizations. Optical properties like refractive indices and birefringence of LLC is strongly modified with ZnO NPs doping. The stronger dipole moment of the NPs shifted the optical band gap of nanocolloids from semiconducting to insulating region and also influenced the net dielectric permittivity of the nanocolloids. The conductivity of the nanocolloids is measured and correlated with the optical band gap and dielectric dynamics. In addition, nanocolloids show ionic charge capturing properties. Schematic comprising hexagonal to lamellar phase transition in ZnO Doped LLCs phases and organization of NPs on the lyotropic interface. [Display omitted] •ZnO NPS have been prepared via new co-operative non-aqueous self-assembly route.•Doping of NPS is highlighted as a process to tailor new lyotropic phase.•ZnO NPs dipole moment strongly alter optical band gap and dielectric permittivity of the nanocolloids.•Nanocolloids can be utilized for capturing of ionic impurities, dielectric and capacitive applications.