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Pure and (Er, Al) co-doped ZnO nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, magnetic and photocatalytic properties

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Abstract

Pure ZnO and a series of Al and Er co-doped ZnO nanomaterials (AEZ) have been synthesized and characterized by various analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as TEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, Raman, UV–Vis and SQUID. Al concentration has been varied from 1, 2 and 3% keeping fixed concentration of Er at 2% to obtain the co-doped ZnO. TEM images show uniform and homogeneously distributed plates-like nanostructure for ZnO and predominately spherical shape with hexagonal facets for AEZ. XRD Rietvield analysis confirms the crystallinity of ZnO and AEZ with ZnO würtzite crystal structure. It also clearly demonstrates the coexistence of Al and Er into ZnO lattice as evidenced by the shift of reflections towards lower 2θ values. The change of magnetic behavior from ferromagnetic into paramagnetic originated from point defects depending on the concentration of the doping elements. The as-prepared nanopowders have been tested under visible light (554 nm wavelength) irradiation to evaluate the photocatalytic activity towards Rhodamine B (RhB); the degradation rate was found to be more than 93% in 40 min with the combination 3% Al, 2% Er co-doped ZnO.

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Acknowledgements

MNS gratefully acknowledges the National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (MAARIFAH)-King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology through the Science and Technology Unit at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, award number 15-NAN4650-04.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Surfaces and Interfaces (LESIMS), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University Badji Mokhtar, Annaba, Algeria

    R. Ghomri & M. Ghers

  2. Center of Research Excellence in Nanotechnology (CENT), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

    M. Nasiruzzaman Shaikh & M. I. Ahmed

  3. Key Laboratory of Materials Physics, Anhui Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials and Technology, Center for Environmental and Energy Nanomaterials, Institute of Solid State Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, People’s Republic of China

    W. Song & W. Cai

  4. Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, PO Box 32038, Zallaq, Kingdom of Bahrain

    M. Bououdina

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  1. R. Ghomri
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Ghomri, R., Shaikh, M.N., Ahmed, M.I. et al. Pure and (Er, Al) co-doped ZnO nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, magnetic and photocatalytic properties. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 29, 10677–10685 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-018-9136-7

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