Structural investigations on Cu2+ ions doped ZnCdO nanopowder

► Cu2+ ion doped ZnCdO nanopowder is prepared by simple solution method. ► Powder XRD pattern conforms the prepared powder is in the nanoscale. ► Site symmetry for copper ion is tetragonal distorted octahedral site symmetry. Cu2+ ion doped ZnCdO composite powder is synthesized at room temperature by using mild and simple solution method and it is characterized by Powder X-ray diffraction, SEM, EDX and several spectroscopic techniques. Powder XRD pattern of the prepared powder confirms the crystallite size is in nanoscale. PL spectrum exhibited the bands in the UV and blue region and FT-IR spectrum clearly evidences the characteristic absorption bands related to the metal oxides and as well as some other organic molecules. Optical absorption and EPR studies suggested that Cu2+ ion enters into the lattice as tetragonally elongated octahedral symmetry, for which crystal field, Spin-Hamiltonian, hyperfine splitting and bonding parameters are evaluated.