Effect of Mn doping on structural and optical properties of sol gel derived ZnO nanoparticles

We have synthesized the Zn1−x Mnx O (x=0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.05) nanoparticles by the sol–gel method. These samples are characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Ultraviolet/Visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy. The x-ray diffraction patterns show that all the samples are formed in single phase with a complete solubility of Mn ions in the ZnO matrix. SEM micrographs show that the Mn doped ZnO nanoparticles are hexagonal with wurtzite structure.The particle sizes range between 18 and 35 nm. We have observed a decrease in fluorescence intensity on Mn doping and all the Mn doped samples show lower value of intensity as compared to pure ZnO in the visible range of spectrum. Raman spectroscopy reveals that the characteristic intense band of ZnO at 435 cm−1 exhibits a decrease in intensity and slightly red shifts for 5% Mn doping. FTIR spectra exhibit additional bands on Mn doping as compared to pure ZnO.