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Structural, optical and electrical properties of zinc incorporated copper oxide nanoparticles: doping effect of Zn

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Abstract

The present paper demonstrates the effect of Zn ion doping on structural, electrical and optical properties of monoclinic CuO nanoparticles prepared via microwave combustion method. The crystal structure, optical and electrical properties of synthesized CuO and Zn-doped CuO samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction study, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction study, UV–Visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and photoconductivity technique. The XRD values show that the crystalline size of Zn-doped CuO nanoparticles was varied with Zn concentration and also it depends on the micro-strain and dislocation density of CuO lattice. FE-SEM and TEM images indicated that the synthesized samples are of the cube and rod-like structures in nature. The band gap of CuO nanoparticles has been calculated using Tauc’s plot and the result showed that the incorporation of Zn has decreased the bandgap of CuO. The I–V characterization study was performed to determine the electrical property of CuO and Zn-doped CuO films. From the results, it is observed that the photocurrent of CuO and Zn-doped CuO films is found to be greater in UV-light as compared to dark.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to SERB, New Delhi, for providing financial support in the form of Major Research Project. The authors are also thankful to Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and SAIF Bombay for the support to carry out this work.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Sciences, Kuvempu University, Jnanasahyadri, Shankaraghatta, Karnataka, 577 451, India

    R. O. Yathisha & Y. Arthoba Nayaka

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Correspondence to Y. Arthoba Nayaka.

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Yathisha, R.O., Arthoba Nayaka, Y. Structural, optical and electrical properties of zinc incorporated copper oxide nanoparticles: doping effect of Zn. J Mater Sci 53, 678–691 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1496-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1496-5

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