Novel Syntheses of Wide-Band Gap Semiconducting CdxZnx−1Co2O4 of Spinel Nanostructure: Characterization and Optical Properties

Abstract

AbstractCadmium doped zinc cobaltite spinel structure in the form of CdxZnx-1Co2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) are synthesized by sol-gel method. The energy dispersive X-ray spectra confirm the synthesis of pure ZnCo2O4 and Cd doped samples nanoparticles. Scanning and transmission electron microscopes images of Cd ZnCo2O4 samples show the cubic crystal structure of the nanoparticles. A good crystallinity of the ZnCo2O4 and its dopants samples are indicated by the sharpness and strong peaks of X-ray diffraction patterns. The particle size is independent of the ratio of incorporated Cd into the ZnCo2O4 matrix. The FT-IR transmission spectrum of each Cdx Zn1-xCo2O4 complex shows two strong vibration peaks that are ascribed to the spinel structure’s octahedral and tetrahedral. The absorption spectra reveal three distinct absorption characteristics for Cdx Znx-1Co2O4 peaking at 268, 532 and 778 nm due to the photoexcitation of electrons from O 2p to Co 3d transitions and d-d transition of Co 3d. N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms for Cdx Znx-1Co2O4 indicate are carried out.