Herein, n-type pure and Zn²⁺-doped monoclinic bismuth oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by the citrate sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), photoluminescence (PL) analysis, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, and Hall effect measurements were used to study the effect of Zn²⁺ on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of nanoparticles. XRD revealed the monoclinic stable phase (α-Bi₂O₃) of all synthesized samples and the crystallite size of nanoparticles increased with increasing concentration of dopant. Optical analysis illustrated the red shift of absorption edge and blue shift of band gap with increasing concentration of dopant. Hall Effect measurements showed improved values (2.79 × 10^-5 S cm^-1 and 6.89 cm²/V·s) of conductivity and mobility, respectively, for Zn²⁺-doped α-Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles. The tuned optical band gap and improved electrical properties make Zn²⁺-doped α-Bi₂O₃ nanostructures promising candidates for optoelectronic devices. The degradation of methylene blue (MB, organic dye) in pure and zinc-doped α-Bi₂O₃ was investigated under solar irradiation. The optimum doping level of zinc (4.5% Zn²⁺-doped α-Bi₂O₃) reveals the attractive photocatalytic activity of α-Bi₂O₃ nanostructures due to electron trapping and detrapping for solar cells.

	Year	Citations

About