Effect of Cadmium on Structure and Optical Properties of ZnO Nanopowders by Sol-Gel Method

Zn1-xCdxO (x=0, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08) ternary alloys were successfully synthesized by Sol–gel method. The prepared powders were sintered at 800°C for 4hrs. The compositional, structural and optical studies were investigated by SEM equipped with EDS, XRD and UV-Visible Spectroscopy. XRD results were compared with JCPDS data and confirmed the formation of Cd doped ZnO nanoparticles with polycrystalline single phase hexagonal wurtzite structure. The crystallite size was found to decrease from 21 to 17 nm with increase in the concentration of Cd. EDS analysis revealed the existence of Cd content in ternary alloys. From Ultraviolet-visible spectral studies optical band gap vary from 3.21 eV to 3.12 eV with Cd concentration.