Abstract

Herein, the influence of rare-earth metal (REM) ion yttrium on the physical properties of co-precipitation-derived ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) is reported. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the inclusion of yttrium does not alter the hexagonal wurtzite phase of host ZnO up to 3% of yttrium content and forms a secondary phase for further doping. The size-strain plot (SSP) analysis of synthesized NPs shows that yttrium increases the crystallite size values. Variations in the Urbach energy value and optical bandgap support the creation of defect levels. Room-temperature photoluminescence investigations on the Y-doped ZnO NPs identify surface defects and vacancies. The existence of various functional groups besides the characteristic stretching vibrations of ZnO in the prepared NPs is ascertained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Elemental mapping investigation verifies the presence of constituent elements in the 5% yttrium-doped ZnO NPs. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are used to analyze the surface morphology of the 5% yttrium-doped ZnO NPs as well as the oxidation states of the constituent elements.