Powder Diffraction

Table of Contents - March 2008 - Volume 23, Supplement S1  

Technical Articles

Rietveld refinement of transition metal doped ZnO

D. A. A. Santosa1, A. D. P. Rochaa1 and M. A. Macêdoa1

a1 Physics Department, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil

Abstract

Nanocrystals of Zn1−xMxO (M=Mn, Co, or Ni) were grown using proteic sol-gel process, and the crystalline phases were identified by X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. The nanocrystals have hexagonal wurtzite structure, with space group P63mc. The insertion of Mn2+ in the place of Zn2+ provoked an increase in the size of the nanocrystals, and the insertion of Co2+ or Ni2+ caused a reduction in the sizes of the nanocrystals, as compared to pure ZnO. This occurred because these three transition metals have very different ionic radii (Co2+=0.58 A˚, Mn2+=0.66 A˚, Ni2+=0.55 A˚, and Zn2+=0.60 A˚).

(Received May 17 2007)

(Accepted February 28 2008)

Key words:

  • Rietveld refinement;
  • XRD;
  • ZnO