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

Abstract

Nanoparticles of the system Zn$_{0.95}$Ni$_{0.05}$O were prepared by sol gel self- combustion method and a study of their structural, optical and magnetic properties were conducted. X-ray diffraction study shows a hexagonal wurtzite structure for the nanocompound. The formation of the wurtzite structure in Ni doped ZnO was further confirmed by Fourier transform infra-red spectrometry. Transmission electron microscopy revealed an average size of 31 nm for the particles. Optical absorption spectra shows that the band energy of Zn$_{0.95}$Ni$_{0.05}$O powders is about 2.54 eV at room temperature. A study of the magnetic properties of the nanopowders of ZnO: Ni, reveals paramagnetic behavior, with interaction ferromagnetic between particles.