Al-Doping Effects on Structural and Morphological Properties of ZnO Aerogels Synthesized in Supercritical Ethanol

摘要: Aerogels of pure and aluminium doped ZnO (Al-ZnO) were synthesized by sol-gel route followed supercritical drying in ethanol. The atomic percentage the dopant is fixed at 1, 3, 5 10 at.%. elaborated aerogels characterized X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis (EDAX) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). DRX results revealed good crystalline quality samples with hexagonal wurtzite crystallographic structure. No phase related to aluminum ions or based compounds has been detected. With increasing Al content aerogels, crystallinity deteriorates cell parameters are found be slightly changed. SEM images showed that presence atoms lattice strongly alters grain morphology, especially for higher doping levels (≥ at.%). EDAX spectra well-defined peaks only Zn, O confirmed absence other impurities. FTIR measurements have shown introduction A1 greatly reduces intensity Zn-O bond-vibrating band shifts it towards low wavenumbers.