Molecules, Vol. 28, Pages 7772: Facile Synthesis of Ni-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles Using Cashew Gum: Investigation of the Structural, Optical, and Photocatalytic Properties
Molecules, Vol. 28, Pages 7772: Facile Synthesis of Ni-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles Using Cashew Gum: Investigation of the Structural, Optical, and Photocatalytic Properties
Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules28237772
Authors:
Alexsandro Lins
Aimee G. Jerônimo
Ricardo Barbosa
Luan Neves
Pollyana Trigueiro
Luciano C. Almeida
Josy A. Osajima
Francisca A. Pereira
Ramón R. Peña-Garcia
This work adopted a green synthesis route using cashew tree gum as a mediating agent to obtain Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles through the sol–gel method. Structural analysis confirmed the formation of the hexagonal wurtzite phase and distortions in the crystal lattice due to the inclusion of Ni cations, which increased the average crystallite size from 61.9 nm to 81.6 nm. These distortions resulted in the growth of point defects in the structure, which influenced the samples’ optical properties, causing slight reductions in the band gaps and significant increases in the Urbach energy. The fitting of the photoluminescence spectra confirmed an increase in the concentration of zinc vacancy defects (VZn) and monovacancies (Vo) as Zn cations were replaced by Ni cations in the ZnO structure. The percentage of VZn defects for the pure compound was 11%, increasing to 40% and 47% for the samples doped with 1% and 3% of Ni cations, respectively. In contrast, the highest percentage of VO defects is recorded for the material with the lowest Ni ions concentration, compr...
Source: Molecules - Category: Chemistry Authors: Alexsandro Lins Aimee G. Jer ônimo Ricardo Barbosa Luan Neves Pollyana Trigueiro Luciano C. Almeida Josy A. Osajima Francisca A. Pereira Ram ón R. Peña-Garcia Tags: Article Source Type: research