Ultrasonic synthesis of Zn-doped CdO nanostructures and their optoelectronic properties

The effect of Zn dopant on the growth of cadmium oxide (CdO) nanostructures through a sonochemical method was investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the nanoparticles show CdO cubic structures for the produced samples. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images reveal that morphologies of the samples change, when they are doped with Zn atoms, and their sizes reduce. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) and UV-Vis spectrometers were used to study optical properties of the samples. Evaluation of optical properties indicates that different emission bands result from different transitions and the value of CdO energy band gap increases due to doping. Studies of electrical properties of the nanostructures demonstrate that Zn dopant enhances electrical conductivity and photocurrent generation as the result of light illumination on the nanostructures due to improved density of photo-generated carriers. Considering the obtained outcomes, Zn dopant can alter the physical property of the CdO nanostructures.