Synthesis, spectral characterization and crystal structure of a new precursor [(CH3COCHCOCH3)2Zr{C6H4(N=CHC6H4O)2}] for nano-zirconia: an investigation on the wettability of polyvinylidene fluoride–nano-zirconia composite material

A new octa-coordinated metallo-organic complex of zirconium (IV) [(CH 3 COCHCOCH 3 ) 2 Zr{C 6 H 4 (N=CHC 6 H 4 O) 2 }] was synthesized quantitatively by treating Zr(OPr i ) 4 ·Pr i OH with CH 3 COCH 2 COCH 3 and tetradentate Schiff’s base ligand (L) [where L = {C 6 H 4 (N=CHC 6 H 4 OH) 2 }] in 1:2:1 stoichiometry in anhydrous refluxing toluene. The yellow solid complex was characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, UV–visible, fluorescence and NMR ( 1 H and 13 C) spectra as well as by single-crystal XRD. The complex was processed to obtain nano-structured zirconia (ZrO 2 ) by sol–gel technique, and oxide ceramic was subjected to powder XRD, TEM and EDX analyses. Further, the same zirconia was employed in preparing superhydrophobic PVDF–nano-ZrO 2 composite coatings by spray coating method, and the effect of nano-oxide ceramic on the wettability of PVDF–nano-ZrO 2 composite coatings was studied systematically. The composite material was also characterized by FTIR and powder XRD. Graphical abstract