Influence of Mn doping on the microstructure and optical property of ZnO

TL;DR

This study investigates how manganese doping affects the structure and optical properties of ZnO, revealing changes in lattice parameters, grain size, and band gap with increasing Mn content.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the effects of Mn doping on ZnO's microstructure and optical properties using a simple synthesis method.

Findings

Mn doping slightly enlarges lattice parameters

Grain size decreases with Mn doping

Optical band gap decreases as Mn content increases

Abstract

Undoped and Mn doped ZnO samples with different percentage of Mn content (1 mol%, 2 mol% and 3mol%) were synthesized by a simple solvo-thermal method. We have studied the structural, chemical and optical properties of the samples by using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The XRD spectra show that all the samples are hexagonal wurtzite structures. The lattice parameters calculated for the Mn doped ZnO from the XRD pattern were found to be slightly larger than those of the undoped ZnO, which indicates substitution of Mn in ZnO lattice. SEM photograph shows the grain size of undoped ZnO is bigger than the Mn doped ZnO indicating hindrance of grain growth upon Mn doping. As the Mn doping increases the optical band gap decreases for the range of Mn doping reported here.