Exploring the dielectric behavior of Co doped ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by wet chemical route using impedance spectroscopy

In the present investigation, we report the synthesis of Co doped ZnO nanoparticles by wet chemical method with dopant content varying from 0% to 5%. The structural and dielectric properties of the samples were studied. Crystallite sizes were calculated from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, which were found to decrease with the increase in Co content. The XRD analysis also ensures that ZnO has a hexagonal (wurtzite) crystal structure and Co2+ ions were successfully incorporated into the lattice sites of Zn2+ ions. Dielectric constant was found to decrease with frequency and dopant concentration. Loss tangent results show the decrease in the hopping frequency of charge carriers between metal ions with doping. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.