Tuning the Optical Properties of ZnO by Co and Gd Doping for Water Pollutant Elimination
In the present study, pure, Co, Gd, and Co/Gd di-doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via the co-precipitation synthesis route. The prepared samples were characterized through different techniques such as the X-ray diffraction method (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| author | Kashif Safeen Akif Safeen Danish Arif Wiqar H. Shah Akhtar Ali Ghafar Ali Fayaz Hussain Naveed Imran Atta Ullah Shah Abed Alataway Ahmed Z. Dewidar Hosam O. Elansary Mohamed Al-Yafrsi Khawaja Shafique Ahmad |
| author_facet | Kashif Safeen Akif Safeen Danish Arif Wiqar H. Shah Akhtar Ali Ghafar Ali Fayaz Hussain Naveed Imran Atta Ullah Shah Abed Alataway Ahmed Z. Dewidar Hosam O. Elansary Mohamed Al-Yafrsi Khawaja Shafique Ahmad |
| author_sort | Kashif Safeen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the present study, pure, Co, Gd, and Co/Gd di-doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via the co-precipitation synthesis route. The prepared samples were characterized through different techniques such as the X-ray diffraction method (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL)spectroscopy, and an impedance analyzer and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The XRD pattern shows ZnO’s wurtzite hexagonal crystal structure; moreover, the shifting of characteristic peaks toward the lower angle indicates the inclusion of Co and Co/Gd in the ZnO host lattice. SEM micrographs show various morphologies such as rods, the agglomeration of particles, and spherical nanoparticles. The UV-Vis spectroscopy reveals that the absorption increased in the visible region and there was a substantial redshift for the doped samples. The bandgap decreased from 3.34 to 3.18 eV for the doped samples. The PL spectra show near-edge and inter-band transitions; the origin of inter-band transitions is attributed to the defect states present within the bands. The dielectric constant is strongly frequency dependent and decreases with Co and Co/Gd doping, while the electrical conductivity increases. A VSM study indicates that pure ZnO is diamagnetic, while the Co and Co/Gd doped ZnO nanoparticles showed ferromagnetic behavior. Under UV-visible light irradiation, the Co/Gd-ZnO nanoparticles showed higher photocatalytic activity than the ZnO nanoparticles. The enhanced photocatalytic activity may be attributed to a decreased bandgap with doping. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:25:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-27ae46b8b3d34210822d391bbcb2ca6f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:25:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-27ae46b8b3d34210822d391bbcb2ca6f2023-11-17T21:47:37ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-04-01158147010.3390/w15081470Tuning the Optical Properties of ZnO by Co and Gd Doping for Water Pollutant EliminationKashif Safeen0Akif Safeen1Danish Arif2Wiqar H. Shah3Akhtar Ali4Ghafar Ali5Fayaz Hussain6Naveed Imran7Atta Ullah Shah8Abed Alataway9Ahmed Z. Dewidar10Hosam O. Elansary11Mohamed Al-Yafrsi12Khawaja Shafique Ahmad13Department of Physics, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanDepartment of Physics, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot 12350, PakistanDepartment of Physics, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot 12350, PakistanDepartment of Physics, International Islamic University H-10, Islamabad 44000, PakistanDepartment of Physics, International Islamic University H-10, Islamabad 44000, PakistanNanomaterials Research Group, Physics Division, PINSTECH, Islamabad 45650, PakistanDepartment of Materials Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75270, PakistanHITEC Schools and Colleges, HIT, Taxila 47070, PakistanNational Institute of Lasers and Optronics College Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nilore, Islamabad 45650, PakistanPrince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaPrince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaPrince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaPlant Production Department, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Botany, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot 12350, PakistanIn the present study, pure, Co, Gd, and Co/Gd di-doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via the co-precipitation synthesis route. The prepared samples were characterized through different techniques such as the X-ray diffraction method (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL)spectroscopy, and an impedance analyzer and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The XRD pattern shows ZnO’s wurtzite hexagonal crystal structure; moreover, the shifting of characteristic peaks toward the lower angle indicates the inclusion of Co and Co/Gd in the ZnO host lattice. SEM micrographs show various morphologies such as rods, the agglomeration of particles, and spherical nanoparticles. The UV-Vis spectroscopy reveals that the absorption increased in the visible region and there was a substantial redshift for the doped samples. The bandgap decreased from 3.34 to 3.18 eV for the doped samples. The PL spectra show near-edge and inter-band transitions; the origin of inter-band transitions is attributed to the defect states present within the bands. The dielectric constant is strongly frequency dependent and decreases with Co and Co/Gd doping, while the electrical conductivity increases. A VSM study indicates that pure ZnO is diamagnetic, while the Co and Co/Gd doped ZnO nanoparticles showed ferromagnetic behavior. Under UV-visible light irradiation, the Co/Gd-ZnO nanoparticles showed higher photocatalytic activity than the ZnO nanoparticles. The enhanced photocatalytic activity may be attributed to a decreased bandgap with doping.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/8/1470Co/Gd-doped ZnO nanoparticlesoptical propertiesphotodegradation |
| spellingShingle | Kashif Safeen Akif Safeen Danish Arif Wiqar H. Shah Akhtar Ali Ghafar Ali Fayaz Hussain Naveed Imran Atta Ullah Shah Abed Alataway Ahmed Z. Dewidar Hosam O. Elansary Mohamed Al-Yafrsi Khawaja Shafique Ahmad Tuning the Optical Properties of ZnO by Co and Gd Doping for Water Pollutant Elimination Water Co/Gd-doped ZnO nanoparticles optical properties photodegradation |
| title | Tuning the Optical Properties of ZnO by Co and Gd Doping for Water Pollutant Elimination |
| title_full | Tuning the Optical Properties of ZnO by Co and Gd Doping for Water Pollutant Elimination |
| title_fullStr | Tuning the Optical Properties of ZnO by Co and Gd Doping for Water Pollutant Elimination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tuning the Optical Properties of ZnO by Co and Gd Doping for Water Pollutant Elimination |
| title_short | Tuning the Optical Properties of ZnO by Co and Gd Doping for Water Pollutant Elimination |
| title_sort | tuning the optical properties of zno by co and gd doping for water pollutant elimination |
| topic | Co/Gd-doped ZnO nanoparticles optical properties photodegradation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/8/1470 |
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