Structure, Optical, Dielectric, and Magnetic Properties of Zn0.99M0.01O (M = Ni, Fe, and Cd) nanoparticles

Zn0.99M0.01O (M = Ni, Fe, and Cd) nanoparticles have been prepared by a co-precipitation technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) have been used to characterize the prepared samples. XRD patterns showed that ZnO has a hexagonal wurtzite structure with an average particle size of 22.9 nm, which decreased by the addition of metals ions to ZnO. EDS exhibited the existence of Cd, Ni, and Fe which asserts the substitution of metal ions inside ZnO matrix. The UV-Visible spectra revealed an absorbance increase and a band gap decrease by metals ions addition. Dielectric permittivity (ε`), electric modulus (M``), and ac conductivity (σac) were also studied as a function of temperature and frequency. ε` was found to increases with metal ions addition, and a relaxation peak appears at low frequency in M`` spectra. σac(T) was thermally activated and the activation energy Ea decreased with metal ions addition. A ferromagnetic behavior with a hysteresis loops was observed for Zn0.99M0.01O at room temperature. These results suggest that Zn0.99M0.01O is suitable for optoelectronic device applications or as a novel way for the incorporation of magnetic ions in the semiconductor materials.