Solvothermal synthesis of Zn1−xMnxO nanoparticles using oxalate precursor route: Optical and magnetic properties

Nanoparticles of Zn1−xMnxO (x = 0.022, 0.061 and 0.098) were synthesized by a modified solvothermal method through the oxalate precursor route. The precursors were characterized by TG/DTA analysis. Their kinetics has also been studied using the Freeman and Carroll method. The prepared oxide nanoparticles were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), optical and BET surface area studies. PXRD patterns were matched with hexagonal ZnO structure, however few impurity peaks of ZnMnO3 appeared. Reflectance measurements showed that Mn2+ is incorporated in the Zn matrix. The band gap decreases on increasing Mn concentration. The particle size decreases from 18 to 9 nm and the surface area increases (255.4-582.9 m2g−1) on increasing Mn concentration. All these solid solutions show paramagnetic behaviour with very weak antiferromagnetic interactions. The effective magnetic moment of these nanoparticles comes out to be 4.91, 4.77 and 4.18 μB/Mn2+.