Abstract
Ag-doped ZnO nanocomposites are successfully synthesized at different calcination temperatures and times through a simple, effective, high-yield and low-cost mechanochemical combustion technique. Effects of calcination temperature on the crystallinity and optical properties of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV−visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD patterns of the synthesized Ag/ZnO exhibit a well-crystalline wurtzite ZnO crystal structure. The grain size of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites is found to be 19 and 46 nm at calcination temperatures of 400 °C and 700 °C, respectively. The maximum absorption in the UV region is obtained for Ag/ZnO nanocomposites synthesized at a calcination temperature of 500 °C for 3 h. The peak position of blue emissions is almost the same for the nanocomposites obtained at 300–700 °C calcination temperatures. The usual band edge emission in the UV is not obtained at 330 nm excitation. Band edge and blue band emissions are observed for the use of low excitation energy at 335–345 nm.
Highlights
Nano-sized semiconductors are of great interest because of their extraordinary physicochemical properties, which differ from their bulk counterparts [1]
Due to the vast optoelectronic applications of Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures, several theoretical and experimental studies have been conducted on the optical properties of ZnO nanostructures with different morphologies, such as nanoparticles, nanowires, nanobelts, nanoprisms and nanostructured thin films [8,9,10]
Effects of calcination temperature on the X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) behavior of the Ag/ZnO nanocomposites are studied in details
Summary
Nano-sized semiconductors are of great interest because of their extraordinary physicochemical properties, which differ from their bulk counterparts [1]. Due to the vast optoelectronic applications of ZnO nanostructures, several theoretical and experimental studies have been conducted on the optical properties of ZnO nanostructures with different morphologies, such as nanoparticles, nanowires, nanobelts, nanoprisms and nanostructured thin films [8,9,10]. Different transition or noble metals such as Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Ag have been widely used in the doping of ZnO [12,13]. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag can enhance photocatalytic activity through its optical vibration under the visible region [14,15]. Ag/ZnO nanocomposites can have high piezo/solar-photocatalytic activity by coupling the surface plasmon resonance and piezophototronic effect [17]. Effects of calcination temperature on the X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) behavior of the Ag/ZnO nanocomposites are studied in details
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