Band Gap Engineering of Mg Doped ZnO Nanorods Prepared by a Hydrothermal Method

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of band gap on the structure, magnetic, and optical properties of Zn1−xMgxO nanorods synthesized by hydrothermal method using varying x‐values from 0.00 to 0.05 with 0.01 step increment is studied. The structural phases of Zn1−xMgxO samples are determined by X‐ray diffraction tool. The Rietveld analysis is performed for the selected Zn0.95Mg0.05O sample and all samples’ phases are found as single phase. The concentration‐dependent of lattice parameters, cell volumes, microstrain, and dislocation density, locality of the atoms and their displacement, and bond length in Zn1‐xMgxO structures are detailed. Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) measurements are performed and analyzed through concentration dependence of the g‐factor and the line‐widths of pike to pike (ΔHPP) of ESR spectra. A ferromagnetic behavior of the Zn0.95Mg0.05O nanorods is observed. The optical band gaps (Eg) of Zn1‐xMgxO nanorods are obtained by the data taken from Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–VIS) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. It is found that the Eg‐values increased with increasing amount of Mg elements in the structure.