Effect of Mn doping on microstructural and optical behavior of Zn(1−x)MnxO nanorod by simple auto-combustion method

Mn doped ZnO nanorods with different doping concentrations (0, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2) were synthesized by simple auto-combustion method. The structural, morphological and optical behaviors of Zn(1−x)MnxO were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission microscopy (FE-SEM) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The structural properties of un-doped and Mn doped ZnO nanorods exhibit hexagonal wurtzite structure with no secondary phase. From scanning electron micrographs results it can be evidenced that, both crystallite size and surface morphology are significantly affected by Mn doping concentrations. From the optical studies, the reflectance in UV region of doped samples was decreased in comparison to undoped one and the optical band gap varies between 3.33 and 2.81 eV. Photoluminescence spectra shows large emission band originated at 388 nm and a weak band centered on 495 nm. The present study reveals about the influence of Mn2+ ions on morphological and optical properties of Zn(1−x)MnxO.