Nanocrystals of Ni doped ZnO semiconductor by Sol-Gel combustion method

Abstract

Nanoparticles of the system Zn0.95Ni0.05O were prepared by sol gel self- combustion method and a study of their structural, optical andmagnetic properties were conducted. X-ray diffraction study shows a hexagonal wurtzite structure for the nanocompound. The formation ofthe wurtzite structure in Ni doped ZnO was further confirmed by Fourier transform infra-red spectrometry. Transmission electron microscopyrevealed an average size of 31 nm for the particles. Optical absorption spectra shows that the band energy of Zn0.95Ni0.05O powders is about2.54 eV at room temperature. A study of the magnetic properties of the nanopowders of ZnO: Ni, reveals paramagnetic behavior, withinteraction ferromagnetic between particles.