Bandgap Engineering in ZnO By Doping with 3d Transition Metal Ions

Bulk Zn0.95TM0.05O (TM=Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) were synthesized by the standard ceramic method and explored for variation in their band gap energies using Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy in the ultraviolet-visible region. Phase quantification and compositional studies were performed using Rietveld analysis of the X-Ray Diffraction patterns, Scanning Electron microscopy, and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis. Due to 3d transition ion doping, the samples have brilliant colors, and the absorption edge of Zn0.95TM0.05O was found to shift towards the visible and ultraviolet-visible region. The blue and red shifts in band gaps observed for various transition metal ion-doped ZnO are discussed.