Zn0.96−xCu0.04FexO (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.04) alloys – Optical and structural studies

• Zn0.96−xCu0.04FexO nanocrystals from Fe = 0% to 4% were successfully synthesized.
• Change in lattice parameters confirmed the substation of Fe into ZnCuO lattice.
• Red shift of Eg was explained by the sp–d spin exchange interaction of band electron with the d-electron of Fe.

Undoped and Fe doped Zn0.96Cu0.04O (Fe = 0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04) alloys were successfully synthesized by sol–gel method. The hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO could not altered by Cu and Fe doping and it was confirmed by X-ray diffraction spectra. The initial non-equilibrium substitution of Fe (0.01) led to increase the lattice parameters such as d-value, cell parameters, volume and bond length. But the lattice parameters were decreased after Fe = 0.01 due to the proper substitution of Fe3+ ions. The changes in lattice parameters, average crystal size, peak position and peak intensity confirmed the Fe substitution into ZnCuO lattice. The change in surface morphology by Fe doping was studied by scanning electron microscope. The observed linear decrease of energy gap, red shift was explained by the sp–d spin exchange interaction of band electron with the d-electron of Fe. Presence of chemical bonding was confirmed by FTIR spectra.

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