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Investigation of the structural and linear/nonlinear optical characteristics of ZnO nanostructures alloyed with Co3O4 and NiO

  • Original Paper: Sol-gel and hybrid materials for optical, photonic and optoelectronic applications
  • Published:
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Abstract

ZnO/(1-x)Co3O4/xNiO/ (x = 0.0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 1) samples were formed using co-precipitation method. Rietveld analysis for synchrotron x-ray diffraction was used to explore the different developed phases, their structural and microstructural in the system. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques were used to explore the existences of different ions and their exchange between different oxides. TEM microscopy revealed homogeneous spherical particle morphology with nano size for all samples. Diffuse reflectance measurements showed high absorbance of the samples with x = 0, 0.7 and 1.0 in visible region, may be used in coating eyeglasses to save skin around the eyes. The optical band gap energy value of the different samples was affected by the percentage of each oxide. The normal and anomalous dispersion behaviors of the refractive index depended on the composition of the sample and the measured wavelength range. The effect of alloying on the linear and nonlinear optical parameters was also explored.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

  • ZnO/(1–x)Co3O4/xNiO samples were prepared by co-precipitation method.

  • XPS, FTIR, TEM and UV-Vis measurements were performed

  • Cations are incorporated into the lattice of the oxides.

  • The crystallite size of ZnO and Co2O3 phases are decreased.

  • Samples with x = 0.3 and 0.5 can be applied in low-profile optical devices and waveguides.

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Acknowledgements

The researchers would like to acknowledge Deanship of Scientific Research, Taif University for funding this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Zein K. Heiba, Mohamed Bakr Mohamed & Hassan Elshimy

  2. SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East), Allan, Jordan

    M. Abdellatief

  3. Department of Physics, University College of Turabah, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

    Essam E. Ali

  4. Department of Physics, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

    Ali Badawi

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  1. Zein K. Heiba
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  4. Hassan Elshimy
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Heiba, Z.K., Mohamed, M.B., Abdellatief, M. et al. Investigation of the structural and linear/nonlinear optical characteristics of ZnO nanostructures alloyed with Co3O4 and NiO. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 108, 175–186 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06196-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06196-6

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