Structural, magnetic, and optical characteristics of undoped and chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doped nickel oxide nanopowders

Abstract The present investigation seeks to customize the optical, magnetic, and structural characteristics of nickel oxide (NiO) nanopowders through chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doping to enhance optoelectronic applications. In this regard, the preparation of pristine NiO and Ni0.95 × 0...

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Main Authors: Farzaneh Asaldoust, Khosro Mabhouti, Akbar Jafari, Maryam Taleb-Abbasi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85239-0
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author Farzaneh Asaldoust
Khosro Mabhouti
Akbar Jafari
Maryam Taleb-Abbasi
author_facet Farzaneh Asaldoust
Khosro Mabhouti
Akbar Jafari
Maryam Taleb-Abbasi
author_sort Farzaneh Asaldoust
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The present investigation seeks to customize the optical, magnetic, and structural characteristics of nickel oxide (NiO) nanopowders through chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doping to enhance optoelectronic applications. In this regard, the preparation of pristine NiO and Ni0.95 × 0.05O (X = Cr, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn) powders was successfully achieved through the co-precipitation method. The X-ray powder diffraction was employed to examine the prepared powders’ phase formation and crystal structure characteristics. The obtained results revealed the presence of a face-centered cubic structure in all samples. In addition, doping of Cr, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn into the NiO system did not induce any other secondary phase. Moreover, the estimation of the crystalline size for the pristine and doped samples was carried out using the Debye-Scherrer formula, yielding values ranging from 16 to 28 nm which is deemed suitable for the study of doping effects. Moreover, the morphological characteristics of both the pristine and doped NiO powders were investigated using a field emission scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy to confirm the presence of dopant elements and chemical composition. The morphological results revealed the growth of homogeneous nanocrystallites with fine particles. Furthermore, the samples underwent Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis to validate their purity, which revealed the presence of vibrational modes in the metal oxide bonds. An optical investigation was conducted on all samples utilizing a diffuse reflectance spectroscopy within the spectral range of 350–900 nm. Band gap values were estimated based on diffuse reflectance spectroscopy data through Tauc plot analysis, yielding a range from 2.77 to 3.46 eV. This analysis revealed a red shift in NiO with all dopants except for Zn doping. Additionally, numerical calculations utilizing the Kramers–Kronig relation were performed to assess the extinction coefficient (k) and refractive index (n) parameters from the reflectance data. The presence of room-temperature ferromagnetism was elucidated in all samples by the findings acquired through the application of the vibrating sample magnetometer technique. The parameters of coercivity exhibit an increase from 80.44 Oe for pristine NiO to 350.75 Oe for Zn-doped NiO, a phenomenon that is advantageous for applications in data storage. The introduction of iron into NiO nanoparticles has profoundly affected the magnetic properties, resulting in a transition of the material from a weak ferromagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state. The outcomes imply promising magnetic and optical applications for such earlier mentioned nanopowders. This observation suggests that the prepared NiO nanopowders have significant potential in both linear and nonlinear optical devices, optoelectronics, and data storage technologies.
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spelling doaj-art-f4ef3edb0bd74eff8f03c79a694dbf002025-01-12T12:19:03ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115112110.1038/s41598-025-85239-0Structural, magnetic, and optical characteristics of undoped and chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doped nickel oxide nanopowdersFarzaneh Asaldoust0Khosro Mabhouti1Akbar Jafari2Maryam Taleb-Abbasi3Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Urmia UniversityDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Urmia UniversityDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Urmia UniversityDepartment of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of TabrizAbstract The present investigation seeks to customize the optical, magnetic, and structural characteristics of nickel oxide (NiO) nanopowders through chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doping to enhance optoelectronic applications. In this regard, the preparation of pristine NiO and Ni0.95 × 0.05O (X = Cr, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn) powders was successfully achieved through the co-precipitation method. The X-ray powder diffraction was employed to examine the prepared powders’ phase formation and crystal structure characteristics. The obtained results revealed the presence of a face-centered cubic structure in all samples. In addition, doping of Cr, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn into the NiO system did not induce any other secondary phase. Moreover, the estimation of the crystalline size for the pristine and doped samples was carried out using the Debye-Scherrer formula, yielding values ranging from 16 to 28 nm which is deemed suitable for the study of doping effects. Moreover, the morphological characteristics of both the pristine and doped NiO powders were investigated using a field emission scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy to confirm the presence of dopant elements and chemical composition. The morphological results revealed the growth of homogeneous nanocrystallites with fine particles. Furthermore, the samples underwent Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis to validate their purity, which revealed the presence of vibrational modes in the metal oxide bonds. An optical investigation was conducted on all samples utilizing a diffuse reflectance spectroscopy within the spectral range of 350–900 nm. Band gap values were estimated based on diffuse reflectance spectroscopy data through Tauc plot analysis, yielding a range from 2.77 to 3.46 eV. This analysis revealed a red shift in NiO with all dopants except for Zn doping. Additionally, numerical calculations utilizing the Kramers–Kronig relation were performed to assess the extinction coefficient (k) and refractive index (n) parameters from the reflectance data. The presence of room-temperature ferromagnetism was elucidated in all samples by the findings acquired through the application of the vibrating sample magnetometer technique. The parameters of coercivity exhibit an increase from 80.44 Oe for pristine NiO to 350.75 Oe for Zn-doped NiO, a phenomenon that is advantageous for applications in data storage. The introduction of iron into NiO nanoparticles has profoundly affected the magnetic properties, resulting in a transition of the material from a weak ferromagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state. The outcomes imply promising magnetic and optical applications for such earlier mentioned nanopowders. This observation suggests that the prepared NiO nanopowders have significant potential in both linear and nonlinear optical devices, optoelectronics, and data storage technologies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85239-0Nickle oxide nanoparticlesStructural propertiesOptical propertiesMagnetic propertiesKramers–Kronig
spellingShingle Farzaneh Asaldoust
Khosro Mabhouti
Akbar Jafari
Maryam Taleb-Abbasi
Structural, magnetic, and optical characteristics of undoped and chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doped nickel oxide nanopowders
Scientific Reports
Nickle oxide nanoparticles
Structural properties
Optical properties
Magnetic properties
Kramers–Kronig
title Structural, magnetic, and optical characteristics of undoped and chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doped nickel oxide nanopowders
title_full Structural, magnetic, and optical characteristics of undoped and chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doped nickel oxide nanopowders
title_fullStr Structural, magnetic, and optical characteristics of undoped and chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doped nickel oxide nanopowders
title_full_unstemmed Structural, magnetic, and optical characteristics of undoped and chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doped nickel oxide nanopowders
title_short Structural, magnetic, and optical characteristics of undoped and chromium, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc doped nickel oxide nanopowders
title_sort structural magnetic and optical characteristics of undoped and chromium iron cobalt copper and zinc doped nickel oxide nanopowders
topic Nickle oxide nanoparticles
Structural properties
Optical properties
Magnetic properties
Kramers–Kronig
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85239-0
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AT akbarjafari structuralmagneticandopticalcharacteristicsofundopedandchromiumironcobaltcopperandzincdopednickeloxidenanopowders
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