Green mediated synthesis of lanthanum doped zinc oxide: Study of its structural,optical and latent fingerprint application

The present paper summarises the synthesis of La³⁺ doped zinc oxide nanoparticles using Aloe vera gel by solution combustion method and the characterization using a powder X-ray diffractometer (PXRD), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), an X-ray photometric spectrometer (XPS), a Raman spectrometer and their applications in optical devices and latent fingerprinting. PXRD pattern confirms the crystallite size of La³⁺ doped ZnO varies from 13 to 20 nm. Crystallite size varies inversely with doping concentration. Photoluminescence properties are found to be the maximum for 2 mol% doping concentration. PL spectra extends the use of ZnO:La³⁺ nanoparticles in blue green LED. These nanoparticles also have superior property as a fluorescent labels in fingerprints.