Crystallographic, magnetic and optical analysis of Ni-doped CdS dilute magnetic semiconducting nanoparticles

Abstract

Cd_1−xNi_xS nanoparticles (where x = 0, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12) have been synthesized by colloidal chemical precipitation method. Structural, morphological, magnetic and optical studies have been done. Structural studies validate the formation of single phase hexagonal wurtzite structure of CdS with P6₃ mc space group. Morphological analysis shows that the synthesized nanoparticles possess spherical symmetry. Magnetic study reveals the weakly ferromagnetic character of the undoped CdS nanoparticles. FTIR spectra of the Cd_1−xNi_xS nanoparticle have been analysed in the middle infrared region of 400–700 cm⁻¹. Cd_1−xNi_xS show characteristic Cd–S stretching vibrations at around 615 cm⁻¹. Cd–S band of Cd_1-xNi_xS nanoparticles is strongly blue shifted when compared with undoped CdS band (658 cm⁻¹) due to the incorporation of Ni ions as well as due to reduction in particle size. The band observed at 533 cm⁻¹ is assigned to the presence of Ni–S stretching in the doped nanoparticle.