Biosynthesis of sulfur-doped zinc oxide using bidara leaf extract

Abstract

Incorporating non-metal elements through doping proves to be a highly effective strategy for expanding the photoresponse range of ZnO. This study prepared pristine ZnO and 1%S-doped ZnO through an environmentally friendly approach, employing the biosynthesis method using bidara leaf extract. The synthesized samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy to investigate the structure, morphology, and the optical properties of ZnO, respectively. The XRD analysis revealed a noticeable shift in the diffraction pattern towards smaller angles, indicating the successful incorporation of sulfur into the ZnO lattice. Additionally, FESEM images displayed a distinct modification in the morphology of the ZnO particles upon sulfur doping, accompanied by a reduction in particle size. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed that both ZnO and sulfur-doped ZnO exhibited optical absorption predominantly in the ultraviolet (UV) region. Notably, the presence of sulfur doping led to an increase in the optical absorption of ZnO, while simultaneously narrowing its energy bandgap. These findings highlight the potential of sulfur doping as an effective means to enhance the structural, morphological, and optical properties of ZnO semiconductor materials, thereby opening up possibilities for various optoelectronic applications.