Optical, electrical and structural properties of iron doped zinc oxide nanostructures

The effect of iron (Fe) doping on the optical, electrical and structural properties of zinc oxide nanostructures (ZnO NSs) is investigated in this study. Fe/ZnO NSs were synthesized using a sol–gel and hydrothermal technigue with Fe concentrations of 0, 5, 10, and 20 wt.%. From X-ray diffraction experiments, the undoped ZnO NSs exhibits a hexagonal Wurtzite structure with average crystallite sizes ranging from 50–70 nm and a crystallinity degree of 80%. A decrease in the crystallinity of the nanostructure is observed upon Fe doping, along with a reduction in the average crystallite size. The morphology of the particles is transformed from discrete particles into uniform rods for larger Fe doping (20 wt.%) into the ZnO NSs. Additionally, increasing Fe concentration in ZnO NSs results in increased surface hydrophilicity. Furthermore, increasing Fe concentration in Fe/ZnO NSs leads to a continuous decrease in the bandgap values from 3.21 to 2.84 eV and an increase in electrical conductivity from 58.5 to 71.4 μS/cm. These findings demonstrate the significant influence of Fe doping on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of ZnO NSs.