Atmospheric growth of ZnO thin films doped and co-doped with Ni and Co via UMVD: experimental and theoretical study

In this paper, we report the effect of Co, Ni doping and codoping on the structural, optical, and morphological properties of Zinc oxide (ZnO) with an experimental and theoretical study. Thin films were prepared using rapid synthesis (20 s) via ultrasonic mist vapor deposition under atmospheric pressure condition. The X-ray diffraction pattern of undoped ZnO shows the good crystallization along (002) direction of the prepared sample, while for Ni, Co-doped ZnO and Ni-Co codoped ZnO shows a polycrystalline nature. The structural parameters of ZnO were slightly decreased by the presence of Ni and Co. The average transmittance ratio in the visible range for all synthesized thin films was founded between 75 and 88%. A decrease in the bandgap was observed for Ni-doped ZnO, while it increased for Co-doped ZnO and Ni-Co codoped ZnO compared to undoped ZnO. Raman analysis confirms crystallization of the samples prepared in the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO. Based on density functional theory calculation using GGA + U approximation, the magnetic stability is analyzed. The Ni-doped ZnO sample showed ferromagnetic behavior, while the Co-doped ZnO sample showed antiferromagnetic behavior and Ni-Co codoped exhibited competition between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic states.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effects of Co, Ni doping, and codoping on the structural, optical, and morphological properties of Zinc oxide (ZnO) through both experimental and theoretical approaches. The results show that the presence of doping elements affects the structural parameters, bandgap, and magnetic behavior of ZnO.