Structural and Optical Characteristics of Highly UV-Blue Luminescent ZnNiO Nanoparticles Prepared by Sol–Gel Method

Abstract

A simple single pot sol–gel method is used to prepare ZnNiO nanoparticles at assorted Ni doping levels, 1, 3, 7 and 10 wt.%. Structural and optical properties of nanoparticles are studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence (PL) measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), μ-Raman and X-ray photoelectron-spectroscopy (XPS). A single substitutional solid solution phase is detected in the wurtzite ZnNiO nanoparticles at various doping levels. XRD peak splitting and shifting is ascribed to reduced wurtzite character and presence of crystalline strain in nanoparticles at higher level of Ni doping. The Kubelka-Munk function of DRS data reveals the presence of the Burstein-Moss effect in the optical absorption of ZnNiO nanoparticles. Photoluminescence studies show intense UV-blue emission from ZnNiO nanoparticles. The UV PL also exhibits the Burstein-Moss blue shift in the ZnNiO luminescence. Raman analyses also confirms the wurtzite structure of ZnNiO nanoparticles; however, crystal structural defects and bond stiffness increase with Ni doping. The optical and structural studies presented in this work are pointing towards a multivalent Ni substitution in the nanoparticles.

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“…However, in this study, R samples decreased 0.87. These changes may be due to a decrease in the characteristic of the wurtzite structure (zinc blende meta-stable phases). , Meta-stable ZnO phases cause the creation of distortion lattices by dopant in the ZnO lattice. Lattice distortion on the surface of the ZnO lattice will prohibit the growth of grains of ZnO, which is confirmed by the decrease in lattice parameters, unit cell volume, and the degree of distortion (Table ).…”

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