SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of the effect of high concentration of dopant (Cr, Sn) on structural, optical, and wettability properties of ZnO thin films

  • Research
  • Published:
Journal of the Australian Ceramic Society Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cr- and Sn-co-doped ZnO thin films were prepared via so-gel technique onto glass substrates. The produced films were characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The XRD indicated that the thin films grow with a preferred c-axis orientation. No traces of the Cr and Sn metals, oxides, or a ternary Zn-Cr-Sn phase were detected. This means that the addition of Cr and Sn into the ZnO matrix preserved the constitution of the wurtzite structure of ZnO. However, increasing the amount of Cr dopant in the ZnO thin films caused distortion, owing to the intercalation of the dopant atoms into the wurtzite structure. The optical band gap of the nanostructured zinc oxide thin films reduced from 3.25 to 2.28 eV with the increase in the content of Cr dopant from 5 to 20% mol. Moreover, with the same trend in Cr dopant increase, the water contact angles (WCA) altered from 69.0 to 38.8°. The photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange dye under visible irradiation was investigated for synthesized samples. The chromium-doped zinc oxide samples were improved: the photo degradation efficiency (91.5%) compared with the pure zinc oxide (41.5%).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Suwanboon, S., Amornpitoksuk, P., Muensit, N.: Dependence of optical properties on do** metal, crystallite size and defect concentration of M-doped ZnO nanopowders (M ¼Al, Mg, Ti). Ceram Int. 37, 2247–2253 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mikhailov, M.M., Neshchimenko, V.V., Dedov, N.V., Chundong, L., He, S.: Proton and electron irradiation induced changes in the optical properties of ZnO pigments modified with ZrO2 and Al2O3 nanopowders. Int J Surg Investig. 5, 1152–1161 (2011)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kushnirenko, V.I., Markevich, I.V., Zashivailo, T.V.: Acceptors related to group I elements in ZnO ceramics. J Lumin. 132, 1953–1956 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Amornpitoksuk, P., Suwanboon, S., Sangkanu, S., Sukhoom, A., Muensit, N.: Morphology, photocatalytic and antibacterial activitiesof radial spherical ZnO nanorods controlled with a diblock copolymer. Superlattice Microst. 51, 103–113 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Vishwas, M., Narasimha Rao, K., Arjuna Gowda, K.V., Chakradhar, R.P.S.: Influence of Sn do** on structural, optical and electrical properties of ZnO thin films prepared by cost effective sol–gel process. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 95, 423–426 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ilkhechi, N.N., Azar, Z., Khajeh, M., Mozammel, M.: Enhanced structural, optical and super-hydrophilic properties of TiO2 thin film co-doped by V and Sn. J Mater Sci Mater Electron. 27(10), 10541–10549 (2016)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Nunes, P., Fortunato, E., Martins, R.: Influence of the post-treatment on the properties of ZnO thin films. Thin Solid Films. 383, 277–280 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zheng, G., Yang, A., Wei, H., Liu, X., Song, H., Guo, Y.: Effects of annealing treatment on the formation of CO2 in ZnO thin films grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Appl Surf Sci. 256, 2606–2610 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ye, N., Chen, C.C.: Investigation of ZnO nanorods synthesized by a solvothermal method, using Al-doped ZnO seed films. Opt Mater. 34, 753–756 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kaneva, N.V., Yordanov, G.G., Dushkin, C.D.: Photocatalytic action of ZnO thin films prepared by the sol–gel method. React Kinet Catal Lett. 98, 259–263 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ilkhechi, N.N., Ghobadi, N.: Comparison of structural, optical, photocatalytic behavior and hydrophilic properties of pure and Sn/La co-doped TiO2 thin films. J Mater Sci Mater Electron. 27(11), 12050–12059 (2016)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chang, Y.S., Chang, Y.H., Chen, I.G., Chen, G.J., Chai, Y.L., Fang, T.H., Wu, S.: Synthesis, formation and characterization of ZnTiO3 ceramics. Ceram Int. 30, 2183–2189 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Sabri, N.S., Yahya, A.K., Talari, M.K.: Emission properties of Mn doped ZnO nanoparticles prepared by mechanochemical processing. J Lumin. 132, 1735–1739 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Ilkhechi, N.N., Kaleji, B.K.: Effect of Cu2+, Si4+ and Zr4+ dopant on structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of titania nanopowders. Opt Quant Electron. 48(7), 347 (2016)

  15. Lawes, G., Risbud, A.S., Ramirez, A.P., Seshadri, R.: A zinc-blende metallic transition-metal compound. Phys Rev B. 71(4), 2005 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Risbud, A.S., Spaldin, N.A., Chen, Z.Q., Stemmer, S., Seshadri, R.: Synthesis and characterization of Cr doped ZnO nanocrystals. Phys Rev B. 68(20), 205202–205209 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Rao, C.N.R., Deepak, F.L.: Synthesis and characterization of Cr doped ZnO nanocrystals. J Mater Chem. 15(5), 573–578 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Thota, S., Dutta, T., Kumar, J.: On the sol–gel synthesis and thermal, structural, and magnetic studies of transition metal (Ni, Co, Mn) containing ZnO powders. J Phys Condens Matter. 18(8), 2473–2478 (2006)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ansari, S.A., Alam, F., Khan, A., Khan, W., Chaman, M., Muneer, M., Naqvi A, H.: Influence of Cr do** on the microstructural, optical and photocatalytic properties of ZnO synthesized by sol-gel method. Curr Nanosci. 8, 581 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wu, C., Shen, L., Zhang, Y.C., Huan, Q.: Solvothermal synthesis of Cr-doped ZnO nanowires with visible light-driven photocatalytic activity. Mater Lett. 65, 179 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Safa, S., Masoudi Nejad, A.: Influence of Cr dopant on the microstructure and optical properties of ZnO nanorods. J Adv Mater Process. 2(1), 19–24 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Shannon, R.D.: Revised effective ionic radii and systematic studies of interatomic distances in halides and chalcogenides. Acta Crystallogr. A32, 75 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Aydin, H., El-Nasser, H.M., Aydin, C., Al-Ghamdi, A.A., Yakuphanoglu, F.: Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured undoped and Sn-doped ZnO thin films via sol–gel approach. Appl Surf Sci. 350, 109–114 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bae, S.Y., Na, C.W., Kang, J.H., Park, J.: Comparative structure and optical properties of Ga-, In-, and Sn-doped ZnO nanowires synthesized via thermal evaporation. J Phys Chem B. 109(7), 2526–2531 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Chahmat, N., Souier, T., Mokri, A., Bououdina, M., Aida, M.S., Ghers, M.: Structure, microstructure and optical properties of Sn-doped ZnO thin films. J Alloys Compd. 593, 148–153 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Ismail, A.S., Mamat, M.H., Sin, N.M., Malek, M.F., Zoolfakar, A.S., Suriani, A.B., Rusop, M.: Fabrication of hierarchical Sn-doped ZnO nanorod arrays through sonicated sol−gel immersion for room temperature, resistive-type humidity sensor applications. Ceram Int. 42(8), 9785–9795 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ilkhechi, N.N., Ghorbani, M., Mozammel, M., Khajeh, M., Ilkhechi, N.N., Ghorbani, M., Mozammel, M., Khajeh, M.: J Mater Sci Mater Electron. 28, 3571–3580 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Ilkhechi, N.N., Alijani, M., Kaleji, B.K.: Optical and structural properties of TiO2 nanopowders with Co/Ce do** at various temperature. Opt Quant Electron. 48, 148 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Caglar, Y., Ilican, S., Caglar, M., Yakuphanoglu, F.: Effect of Sn do** on the properties of ZnO thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis. Spectrochim Acta A. 67(3–4), 1113–1119 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Lee, J.H., Park, B.O.: Optical properties of amorphous indium zinc oxide thin films. Thin Solid Films. 426(1–2), 94–99 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Xu, Z.Q., Deng, H., Li, Y., Cheng, H.: Al-do** effects on structure, electrical and optical properties of c-axis-orientated ZnO: Al thin films. Mater Sci Semicond Process. 9(1–3), 132–135 (2006)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Materials Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, Sahand New Town, Tabriz, 5331811111, Iran

    Mahdi Mozammel, Nasrollah Najibi Ilkhechi, Ebrahim Feyzi Tanouraghaj & Elahe Rezaei

Authors
  1. Mahdi Mozammel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nasrollah Najibi Ilkhechi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ebrahim Feyzi Tanouraghaj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Elahe Rezaei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mahdi Mozammel.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mozammel, M., Ilkhechi, N.N., Tanouraghaj, E.F. et al. Evaluation of the effect of high concentration of dopant (Cr, Sn) on structural, optical, and wettability properties of ZnO thin films. J Aust Ceram Soc 55, 999–1007 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41779-019-00312-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41779-019-00312-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation