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Structural and optical characterization of Zn doped TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by sol–gel method

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Abstract

Undoped and zinc-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (Ti1−xZnxO2 where x = 0.00–0.10) were synthesized by a sol–gel method. The synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and UV–VIS spectrometer. XRD pattern confirmed the tetragonal structure of synthesized samples. Average grain size was determined from X-ray line broadening using the Debye–Scherrer relation. The crystallite size was varied from 10 to 40 nm as the calcination temperature was increased from 350 to 800 °C. The incorporation of 3–5 mol% Zn2+ in place of the Ti4+ provoked a slight decrease in the size of nanocrystals as compared to undoped TiO2. The SEM and TEM micrographs revealed the agglomerated spherical-like morphology with a diameter of about 10–30 nm and length of several nanometers, which is in agreement with XRD results. Optical absorption measurements indicated a blue shift in the absorption band edge upon 3–5 mol% zinc doping. Direct allowed band gap of undoped and Zn-doped TiO2 nanoparticles measured by UV–VIS spectrometer were 2.95 and 3.00 eV at 550 °C, respectively.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to Dr. Sanjeev Aggrawal and Nidhi Sekhawat, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra for technical support for getting UV–VISspectra and National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi for getting SEM images. We are thankful to the Director, NIT, Kurukshetra for XRD and SEM facilities in physics department. Authors are also thankful to the reviewers of the manuscript, as the same have been improved only after their valuable suggestions and comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal, 148106, India

    Ruby Chauhan & Ram Pal Chaudhary

  2. Technology Education and Research Integrated Institutions, Kurukshetra, 136119, India

    Ruby Chauhan

  3. Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, 136119, India

    Ashavani Kumar

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  1. Ruby Chauhan
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  2. Ashavani Kumar
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  3. Ram Pal Chaudhary
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Correspondence to Ashavani Kumar.

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Chauhan, R., Kumar, A. & Chaudhary, R.P. Structural and optical characterization of Zn doped TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by sol–gel method. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 61, 585–591 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-011-2664-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-011-2664-8

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