Effect of Cu Doping on Structural and Optical Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Sol–Gel Method

Abstract

Abstract ZnO has large exciton binding energy (60 meV) and wide direct band gap (3.37 eV). It is a promising base materials for optoelectronics applications. To optimize its optical properties, Cu doped ZnO is synthesized by low cost sol–gel method and analyzed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV–vis spectroscopy. The XRD analysis reveals that the samples are polycrystalline with hexagonal wurtzite structure. It also indicates that there is no impurity peaks present in prepared samples and shows that the samples are stoichiometric. SEM images of Cu doping exhibit a slight variation in grain size. In addition, the absorption spectrum of pure and Cu doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) are studied and Tauc plots show band gap narrowing effect on Cu doping concentration to use it as advance material in diiferent devices.