MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGE IN Cu-DOPED ZnO FROM ROD-LIKE TO FLOWERS-LIKE NANOSTRUCTURES: A VITAL ROLE FOR THE OPTICAL BAND GAP TUNING

Abstract

We demonstrate a morphological change in [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text] 0–5%) samples from rod-like ([Formula: see text] 2%) to flower-like ([Formula: see text] 2%) with increasing Cu concentration. This effect is attributed to Cu induced change in the ZnO growth mode from one-dimensional (forming rod-like) to two-dimensional (forming flower-like) structures. The optical properties of the samples were also found to be well correlated with the observed morphological changes in the samples. Optical bandgap decreases with increasing [Formula: see text], exhibiting a minimum (2.88[Formula: see text]eV) at [Formula: see text] 2% and afterwards it increases slightly up to 3.00[Formula: see text]eV for [Formula: see text] 5%. Our results show an intriguing possibility of bandgap tuning by the sample morphology.

Fabrication of Silica‐Supported Al‐Doped ZnO and Its Use in the Elimination of the Toxic Organic Ingredients from Industrial Effluents

“…The concentration of OH ions probably controls this morphologic change. During the synthesis of the Al‐doped ZnO sample, the added Al(NO 3 ) 3 solution reduced the hydroxyl ion concentration because of its acidic nature [29] …”