Synthesis of multifunctional Cu and Al codoped ZnO nanoparticles towards photosensor and photocatalytic applications

Abstract

Cu–Al codoped ZnO nanocomposites were prepared via the simple wet chemical method. The XRD revealed the crystal structure and effect of Cu and Al dopants in the ZnO lattice, such as decrement of crystallite size and increment of microstrain were determined. Surface morphology of the samples was examined by FESEM measurement. FTIR and EDX spectra confirmed the presence of Cu and Al dopants in the ZnO. The optical properties of the pure, Cu, Al-doped ZnO and Cu–Al codoped ZnO nanocomposites were studied by diffused reflectance spectroscopy, and their optical band gaps were determined. The P.L. studies of the prepared sample showed that the P.L. intensity decreased slightly for Cu–Al codoped ZnO. The photosensing behavior of the sample was studied, and its essential properties such as Responsivity (R), detectivity (D*), and External Quantum Efficiency (EQE) of the Cu–Al codoped ZnO sample were found to be 6.96 x 10−2 AW−1, 5.30 x 109 Jones and 16.2% respectively. The photocatalytic degradation of M.B. dye was analyzed, photodegradation efficiency and rate constant of the Cu–Al codoped ZnO sample is 88% and 0.0237 min−1 respectively.