Study on the effect of Zn2+ doping on optical and electrical properties of CuO nanoparticles
Abstract
The present work outlines the synthesis of CuO and Zn-CuO nanoparticles via microwave combustion method using urea as a fuel. The structural, optical and electrical properties of the CuO and Zn-CuO nanoparticles were systematically characterized through UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Photoconductivity technique (I-V study), X-ray diffraction studies (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Energy dispersive analysis X-rays spectrometer (EDAX). The average crystalline size and micro-strain of pure CuO and Zn-CuO nanoparticles were calculated using Debye-Scherrer and William-Hall (W-H) plot methods. The crystalline size was found to be decreased with increase in the concentration of Zn2+ up to 6 mol% and a further increase in the Zn2+ concentration resulted in the formation impurity phase. Field emission scanning electron micrographs show the monoclinic rod-like structure of CuO and Zn-CuO nanoparticles. Energy dispersive X-ray spectra display the existence of Zn2+ in Zn-CuO nanoparticles. The optical band gap values of CuO and Zn-CuO nanoparticles were determined by optical absorption method and the results show a slight decrease in the optical band gap with Zn2+ doping. Electrical properties of CuO and Zn-CuO films were performed using I-V characterization studies and the results shown that the enhancement of photocurrent is more in UV-light as compared to dark.
- Publication:
-
Physica E Low-Dimensional Systems and Nanostructures
- Pub Date:
- April 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.physe.2018.12.021
- Bibcode:
- 2019PhyE..108..257Y
- Keywords:
-
- Copper oxide;
- Microwave combustion;
- Nano-rods;
- P-type semiconductor;
- Zener-pinning effect