Effect of Ni-doping on the structural, optical and magnetic properties of ZnO nanoparticles by solvothermal method

Abstract In this paper, the effect of nickel doping on structural, optical and magnetic properties of ZnO: Ni particles synthesized by solvothermal route using microwave oven is investigated. XRD, SEM with EDAX, TEM and FTIR spectroscopy studies confirm the existence of single phase hexagonal wurtzite structure. UV–Vis spectroscopy shows a shift in band edge towards lower energy. PL spectroscopy measurements illustrate UV emission centered at 390 nm and red emission at 626 nm due to the near-band-edge (NBE) emission and defect related emission of ZnO respectively. VSM studies reveal that the super exchange interaction between the neighboring Ni2+ with Ni2+ ions is responsible for room temperature ferromagnetic behavior in our samples.