Structural and mechanical properties of transition metals doped ZnMgO nanoparticles

Abstract

Zn 0.94 Mg 0.01 TM 0.05 O (TM = Ni, Co, Mn, and Cr) solutions were synthesized by the sol–gel technique using Zn, Mg, Ni, Co, Mn, and Cr based alkoxide. The effects of doping transition metals and annealing temperature on structure and mechanical properties of the ZnMgO nanoparticles were systematically investigated. The phases, crystal structures, sizes and microstructures of the samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. Microhardness values were measured using a digital Vickers microhardness tester. The experimental results were analyzed using Kick's Law, Proportional Specimen Resistance (PSR), Elastic/Plastic Deformation (EPD) models, and Hays–Kendall (HK) approach. The microhardness values of Ni, Co, Mn, and Cr doped ZnMgO nanoparticles gradually decreased, respectively. The Indentation Size Effect behavior was observed. The grain sizes of ZnMgNiO, ZnMgCoO, ZnMgMnO, and ZnMgCrO nanoparticles were calculated approximately to be 26.36, 26.22, 22.89, and 19.24 nm using the Sherrer equation, respectively. Microhardness tests were applied first time to the polycrystalline transition metals (Ni, Co, Mn and Cr) doped in ZnMgO nanoparticles which were prepared using the sol-gel technique. Analyses show that particle size decrease from Ni, Co, Mn to Cr doped, respectively. ► Ni, Co, Mn, and Cr doped ZnMgO nanoparticles were prepared by sol–gel technique. ► Hardness of the Ni, Co, Mn, and Cr doped ZnMgO nanoparticles decrease, respectively. ► The dependence of the load showed that ISE has an influence on the samples. ► Computed mechanical properties were decreased with the increasing load. ► The experimental results showed that Hays–Kendall approach is the most suitable.