Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Applications of Nanocomposites with Nickel Nitrate Doped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

In this work, the co-precipitation method was used to synthesize nickel nitrate-doped zinc oxide (Ni:ZnO) nanoparticles. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is widely known for its optical, electrical and catalytic properties, making it a versatile material in various applications, including sensors, catalysis and optoelectronic devices. The incorporation of nickel nitrate into the ZnO matrix aims to enhance its structural and functional properties by altering the defect states, band gap and surface morphology. In this study, Ni-doped ZnO nanoparticles were prepared using zinc nitrate as precursor for ZnO and nickel nitrate as the dopant. The doping concentration of nickel nitrate was varied to investigate its impact on the structural, optical and magnetic properties of the synthesized material. The co-precipitation method was employed, followed by calcination to achieve crystallization. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results revealed that nickel doping significantly affected the crystallite size, bandgap energy and optical absorption properties of ZnO, making Ni:ZnO a promising candidate for potential applications in photocatalysis, cyclic voltammetery provides insights into its electrochemical properties and optoelectronics.