Structural, photoluminescence and magnetic properties of Cu-doped SnO2 nanoparticles co-doped with Co

Abstract

Co doped Sn0.98Cu0.02O2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by co-precipitation method. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence and magnetic measurements. The observed tetragonal rutile structure confirmed by XRD patterns was not altered by Co-doping and the value of average crystallite size lies within 8–14 nm. The formation of high density defect states and the new phases of Co and Sn were responsible for the reduction of energy gap (Eg) with Co-doping; Eg varied between 3.12 and 3.58 eV. The tuning of band gap and luminescence properties by Co-doping suggested that Co = 4% doped sample is a promising material for selective coatings for solar cells; use as antireflective coating materials, and for fabrication of optoelectronic devices. FTIR spectrum has been used to authenticate the formation of SnO bond and the existence of Co in SnCuO. The promotion of higher local disorders and the oxygen-related defects during growth process of SnO2 nanoparticles at Co = 4% is responsible for the higher UV/violet/blue band photoluminescence emission intensity. The overlapping between bound magnetic polarons (BMP) by Co-doping induced the room temperature ferromagnetism. The existence of high density charge carriers and oxygen vacancies at Co = 4% sample might be responsible for highest magnitude of ferromagnetism. The noticed suppression of RTFM at Co = 6% may be due to the enhanced antiferromagnetic interaction between neighbouring CoCo ion.