Enhancement of Electrical Resistivity in Nickel Doped ZnO Nanoparticles

A systematic investigations on the structural, morphological and electrical properties of Zn1-xNixO (x = 0.00, 0.03 and 0.05) nanoparticles synthesized via sol-gel auto combustion technique. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction pattern shows the formation of single phase with hexagonal wurtzite structure. The lattice parameter of Ni doped ZnO is slightly greater than that of un-doped ZnO nanoparticles. The crystalline size of prepared nanoparticles is found to be in 30 to 32 nm. SEM image shows that the grains are in nanometre range which confirms the nanocrystalline nature of present samples. The temperature dependent DC electrical resistivity measurements have been carried out in the temperature range of 303-573 K. The DC electrical resistivity was found to increase with increase in Ni2+ concentration into ZnO matrix. The resistivity decreases with increasing temperature which interpreted semiconducting nature of ZnO nanoparticles.