Novel Syntheses of Wide-Band Gap Semiconducting CdxZnx−1Co2O4 of Spinel Nanostructure: Characterization and Optical Properties

Cadmium doped zinc cobaltite spinel structure in the form of Cd _x Zn _{x -1} Co ₂ O ₄ (0 ≤  x  ≤ 1) are synthesized by sol-gel method. The energy dispersive X-ray spectra confirm the synthesis of pure ZnCo ₂ O ₄ and Cd doped samples nanoparticles. Scanning and transmission electron microscopes images of Cd ZnCo ₂ O ₄ samples show the cubic crystal structure of the nanoparticles. A good crystallinity of the ZnCo ₂ O ₄ and its dopants samples are indicated by the sharpness and strong peaks of X-ray diffraction patterns. The particle size is independent of the ratio of incorporated Cd into the ZnCo ₂ O ₄ matrix. The FT-IR transmission spectrum of each Cd _x Zn _{1- x} Co ₂ O ₄ complex shows two strong vibration peaks that are ascribed to the spinel structure’s octahedral and tetrahedral. The absorption spectra reveal three distinct absorption characteristics for Cd _x Zn _x-1 Co ₂ O ₄ peaking at 268, 532 and 778 nm due to the photoexcitation of electrons from O 2 p to Co 3 d transitions and d-d transition of Co 3 d . N ₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms for Cd _x Zn _x-1 Co ₂ O ₄ indicate are carried out.