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

Undoped and Mn-doped ZnO samples with different percentage of Mn content (1, 2 and 3 mol%) 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 that the grain size of undoped ZnO is bigger than the Mn-doped ZnOs, 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.