Synthesis and optical properties of nickel doped zinc oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanocrystals of undoped and nickel doped zinc oxide (Zn 1-xNixO, where x=0.00 to 0.05) were synthesized by coprecipitation method. X-ray study revealed that Ni doped ZnO crystallized in hexagonal wurtzite structure. The incorporation of Ni2+ in the place of Zn2+ provoked an increase in the size of nanocrystals as compared to undoped ZnO. Crystalline size of nanocrystals varied from 10 to 40 nm as the calcinations temperature increased. Optical absorption measurements indicated red shift in the absorption band edge upon Ni doping. The band gap value of prepared undoped and nickel doped ZnO nanoparticles decreased as annealing temperature was increased up to 800°C. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.