Influence of ZnO Doping on Spectral Properties of Sol–Gel Derived CdO–FePO4 Nanocomposites

Abstract

The focus of this study are the spectral properties of undoped and zinc oxide (ZnO) doped cadmium oxide iron phosphate (CdO–FePO4) nanocomposites synthesized through a sol-gel approach. Doping of ZnO into the CdO–FePO4 matrix is confirmed through various spectroscopic techniques at room temperature for 0.3 mol.%, 0.6 mol.%, and 0.9 mol.% of ZnO concentration. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern indicates that prepared CdO–FePO4 nanocomposites doped with ZnO correspond to the cubic crystalline nature of CdO, hexagonal amorphous nature of FePO4 and tend to form nanometer size of about 21 nm. The morphological analysis of the produced nanocomposites is done via scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. The particle sizes found from TEM images are in the nanometer regime and are in good agreement with the results obtained from XRD. The functional groups corresponding to CdO bands and PO4 groups are observed for the prepared samples from Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectra. The optical bandgaps of CdO–FePO4 nanocomposites doped with ZnO are deduced by diffused reflectance measurements. The photoluminescence spectrum exhibits bands in the visible range signifying the quantum confinement-induced photoluminescence, and the resultant CIE coordinates and CCT values are explored in search of their applicability in home appliances.