Structural, AC conductivity, dielectric and catalytic behavior of calcium oxide nanoparticles derived from waste eggshells

Abstract

Calcium Oxide (CaO) nanoparticles have been synthesized from waste eggshells (ES) as a source of calcium by solution combustion technique using muffle furnace and microwave oven. CaO nanoparticles obtained using muffle furnace (CaO-F) and via microwave oven (CaO-M) were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, AC conductivity and dielectric studies to correlate the physico-chemical behavior. The frequency dependence of AC conductivity, the permittivity (ε′) and dielectric loss tangent (D) studies have been undertaken in the frequency range 50 Hz–5 MHz at room temperature. AC conductivity was found to enhance with an increase in the frequency. The ε′ was found to decrease initially with the frequency and finally reaching a constant value at higher frequencies. The frequency dependence of D was found to exhibit a resonance peak in the studied frequency region. Catalytic activity of CaO-M was correlated with its dielectric behavior.