Na2Cd2I6L2(H2O)6 [L = Urotropine]: An interesting precursor for synthesizing CdO particles

A coordination polymer, Na₂Cd₂I₆L₂(H₂O)₆ [L = Urotropine] has been employed as sole precursor to synthesize CdO particles. Two different preparation methods viz (i) pyrolysis of the title compound at 700 °C for 2 h and (ii) forming cadmium hydroxide from the title compound followed by pyrolysis at 700 °C for 2 h have been used for the synthesis of nano sized CdO-I and CdO-II, respectively. From powder XRD data the lattice parameters (0.4701 and 0.4696 nm respectively for the two samples) and particle size (~ 77 and 30 nm for CdO-I and CdO-II) have been evaluated. Morphology of the two varieties of CdO is widely different as is evident from their SEM images. The estimated values of the band gap of 2.53 eV and 2.59 eV for CdO-I and CdO-II respectively are obtained from the optical spectral analysis.