Synthesis of Cu and Ce co-doped ZnO nanoparticles: crystallographic, optical, molecular, morphological and magnetic studies

In the present research work, crystallographic, optical, molecular, morphological and magnetic properties of Zn_1-xCu_xO (ZnCu) and Zn_1-x-yCeyCu_xO (ZnCeCu) nanoparticles have been investigated. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coated ZnCu and ZnCeCu nanoparticles have been synthesized by chemical sol-gel method and thoroughly studied using various characterization techniques. X-ray diffraction pattern indicates the wurtzite structure of the synthesized ZnCu and ZnCeCu particles. Transmission electron microscopy analysis shows that the synthesized ZnCu and ZnCeCu particles are of spherical shape, having average sizes of 27 nm and 23 nm, respectively. The incorporation of Cu and Ce in the ZnO lattice has been confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Room temperature photoluminescence spectra of the ZnO doped with Cu and co-doped Ce display two emission bands, predominant ultra-violet near-band edge emission at 409.9 nm (3 eV) and a weak green-yellow emission at 432.65 nm (2.27 eV). Room temperature magnetic study confirms the diamagnetic behavior of ZnCu and ferromagnetic behavior of ZnCeCu.