Synthesis and optical characterization of nickel doped zinc oxide nanoparticles using chemical bath deposition method

Project Abstract

This research project focuses on the synthesis and optical characterization of nickel doped zinc oxide nanoparticles using the chemical bath deposition method. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles doped with nickel (Ni) have garnered significant interest due to their potential applications in various fields such as optoelectronics, sensors, and catalysis. The chemical bath deposition method offers a simple and cost-effective route to synthesize these doped nanoparticles with precise control over their properties. In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles were doped with different concentrations of nickel ions during the chemical bath deposition process. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. XRD analysis revealed the formation of a hexagonal wurtzite structure characteristic of ZnO with observable shifts in peak positions corresponding to nickel doping. SEM images displayed the morphology of the nanoparticles, showing uniform distribution and agglomeration patterns influenced by the nickel doping levels. The EDS analysis confirmed the presence of nickel in the synthesized nanoparticles, with varying concentrations based on the doping levels. UV-Vis spectroscopy was employed to investigate the optical properties of the nanoparticles, revealing changes in the bandgap energy and optical absorption characteristics upon nickel doping. The optical characterization indicated a redshift in the absorption edge of the doped nanoparticles compared to pure ZnO, suggesting changes in the electronic structure due to nickel incorporation. The optical bandgap values were calculated using Tauc plots, demonstrating a decrease in the bandgap energy with increasing nickel concentration. These variations in the optical properties can be attributed to the formation of Ni-related energy levels within the ZnO bandgap. Overall, the successful synthesis and comprehensive optical characterization of nickel doped zinc oxide nanoparticles using the chemical bath deposition method provide valuable insights into tailoring the properties of ZnO nanoparticles for specific applications. The controlled doping of nickel offers opportunities to modulate the optical behavior and enhance the functionality of ZnO nanoparticles for potential use in advanced optoelectronic devices and other technological applications.

Project Overview

<p> </p><p><strong>INTRODUCTION</strong></p><p><strong>1.1 &nbsp; &nbsp; GENERAL INTRODUCTION</strong></p><p>Zinc oxide is an organic compound with formula ZnO it is a white powder that is insoluble in water. It is widely used as an additive into numerous materials and product including plastics, ceramic, glass, cement, rubber (e.g. car tire), lubricant, paint, ointment, adhesive, sealant, pigment, food, batteries etc. ZnO oxide is present in the earth crust as the mineral (Zinc cite), (Gonzalez, R. <em>et al, </em>2008).</p><p>However, most zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle can be prepared on a large scale at low cost by simple solution based method such as chemical bath deposition (CBD), chemical coprecipitation, Sol gel synthesis, spray pyrolysis pulse laser deposition and hydrothermal reaction etc (Zhong Q. P. etal, 1996).</p><p>Zno nanoparticles as an n-type semiconductor with a wide band gap (3.44eV) and large excitation binding energy (60 MeV), transition – metal doped ZnO is expected to play an important role in multidisciplinary area of materials science and future spintronic devices (Wolf S. A. et al; 2001).</p><p>Among the various methods to prepare ZnO nanoparticle, chemical bath deposition is an important method because the compounds will be dissolve in liquid and the microscopic slide also deposited in that same prepared solution. It does not require or depend on expensive equipment.</p><p>A semiconductor is a materials whose conductivity lies between that of a good conduction and a good insulator (Umoh, A. A; 2004). It properties also depends on dopant or impurities added to it. A n-type semiconductor carries current in the form of negative change while p-type carries current predominantly as electron deficiency called holes.</p><p><strong>1.2 &nbsp; &nbsp; AIM AND OBJECTIVES</strong></p><p>This study is aimed at modifying ZnO by doping it with nickel (Ni), a transition metal and the objectives are:</p><p>– &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; To synthesis Ni-doped ZnO by chemical bath deposition (CBD) method.</p><p>– &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; To characterized the sample to obtain it absorbance coefficient and band gab.</p><p>– &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; To find the application(s) of the synthesis Ni-d-oped ZnO nanoparticle.</p><p><strong>1.3 &nbsp; &nbsp; SCOPE OF THE STUDY</strong></p><p>The scope of the study range from using chemical bath deposition (CBD) method of synthesis, to synthesized. ZnO an n-type semiconductor by doping it with transition metal of nickel to obtain zinc oxide nickel doped nanoparticle sample and using UV-vis method of characterization to obtained it absorption coefficient and the band gap of the sample and knowing the right application(s) of the characterized sample.</p> <br><p></p>