Novel Syntheses of Wide-Band Gap Semiconducting CdxZnx−1Co2O4 of Spinel Nanostructure: Characterization and Optical Properties

Abstract Cadmium doped zinc cobaltite spinel structure in the form of Cd x Zn x -1 Co 2 O 4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) are synthesized by sol-gel method. The energy dispersive X-ray spectra confirm the synthesis of pure ZnCo 2 O 4 and Cd doped samples nanoparticles. Scanning and transmission electron microscopes images of Cd ZnCo 2 O 4 samples show the cubic crystal structure of the nanoparticles. A good crystallinity of the ZnCo 2 O 4 and its dopants samples are indicated by the sharpness and strong peaks of X-ray diffraction patterns. The particle size is independent of the ratio of incorporated Cd into the ZnCo 2 O 4 matrix. The FT-IR transmission spectrum of each Cd x Zn 1- x Co 2 O 4 complex shows two strong vibration peaks that are ascribed to the spinel structure’s octahedral and tetrahedral. The absorption spectra reveal three distinct absorption characteristics for Cd x Zn x-1 Co 2 O 4 peaking at 268, 532 and 778 nm due to the photoexcitation of electrons from O 2 p to Co 3 d transitions and d-d transition of Co 3 d . N 2 adsorption–desorption isotherms for Cd x Zn x-1 Co 2 O 4 indicate are carried out.