Title: Investigation of ZnO nanostructures: effect of metal and spinning speed on the physical properties

Authors: M. Benhaliliba; C.E. Benouis; M.S. Aida; Y.S. Ocak; F. Yakuphanoglu

Addresses: Physics Department, Sciences Faculty, Oran University of Sciences and Technology USTOMB, BP1505 Oran, Algeria ' Physics Department, Sciences Faculty, Oran University of Sciences and Technology USTOMB, BP1505 Oran, Algeria ' Thin Films & Plasma Lab., Physics Department, Mentouri University, 25000 Constantine, Algeria ' Dicle Universitesi, Ziya Gokalp, Egitim Fakultesi Ilkogretim Bolumu, 21280 Diyarbakir, Turkey ' Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Firat University, 23119, Elazig, Turkey

Abstract: In this current work, we report on the surface morphology of pure (ZnO) and metal doped (MZO, M = Cu, Fe and Cd) zinc oxide nanostructures grown by sol-gel spin coating route onto a glass substrate at room temperature and speed of 1,000 rpm. We also investigate the effect of spinning speed on the physical and surface properties of coated ZnO films. The doping ratios Cu/Zn, Fe/Zn, Cd/Zn were kept at 2% in the solution. Atomic force microscope (AFM) revealed that nano-grains change in shape and growth orientation as a result of metal content. Average of grains sizes were found to be 87, 122, 174 and 260 nm respectively for pure, Cu, Fe and Cd doped ZnO. Based on the histogram profile, the shape looks like Gaussian curve for the pure ZnO, and it changes considerably for the M-doped ZnO films. Parameters of surface are investigated such as distribution of heights, power spectrum density (Psd), Fourier transform (Ft) of the picture and surface roughness (Rms). Spinning speed influences the surface and physical properties of coated ZnO films. The optimum results, high transparency (~72%) and low resistivity (9 kΩcm), have been obtained with an increase in speed.

Keywords: zinc oxide; ZnO nanostructure; metal doping; metal content; spinning speed; atomic force microscopy; AFM; surface morphology; grain size; transmittance; hall effect measurement system; HMS; resistivity; sol-gel; glass substrates; height distribution; power spectrum density; Fourier transform; surface roughness; surface quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2013.055000

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2013 Vol.6 No.2/3, pp.239 - 251

Published online: 31 Mar 2014 *

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