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A blueshift in the optical band gap of nanocrystalline Zn1−xCaxO thin films has been obtained. A 12.72% enhancement in the band gap of ZnO thin films has been obtained using Ca dopant for the first time. The band gap widens from 3.38 to 3.81 eV as the Ca concentration increases from x=0 to x=0.15. The films are deposited by sol-gel method and have a hexagonal wurtzite phase with no indication of calcium. Grain size lies in the range of 12–92 nm. Atomic force micrographs indicate much smaller rms surface roughness showing significantly smooth surfaces.

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Enhancement of the optical band gap of ZnO from 3.14 to 3.29 eV has been obtained using Fe dopant. Undoped and doped ZnO films are deposited by sol-gel spin coating. XRD patterns indicate polycrystalline nature and hexagonal wurtzite structure of Zn1−xFexO films. EDX analysis confirms the presence of iron dopant. The photoluminescence spectra show an ultraviolet emission peak at 398 nm (NBE emission) and defect emission peak at 485 nm. Intensity of the NBE emission is much higher for the doped samples with its ratio to defect emission intensity highest for 2 at. %doping. The NBE emission shifts to higher energy with increasing dopant concentration in a manner similar to that exhibited by the band gap. Surface morphology has been studied using FESEM.

This paper deals with the investigations on the nucleation and growth of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanostructures in a catalyst free synthesis. The ZnO nanostructures have been formed by evaporation of Zn (99.99%) in O2 and Ar atmosphere in single zone furnace under two temperature regions, region A (approximately 1173-1073 K) and region B (approximately 873-773 K). Through application of XRD and TEM techniques, it has been shown that first ZnO is formed which changes to ZnOx through creation of oxygen vacancies. The ZnOx acts as self-catalyst and leads to formation of various nanostructures. Those observed in the present investigation are nanotetrapods (1 D, diameter approximately 70-450 nm, length approximately 2-4.5 approximatelym) nanorods (1 D, diameter approximately 45-95 nm, length approximately 2.5-4.5 microm), nanoflowers(2D, central core diameter approximately 90-185 nm, length of petals/nanorod approximately 1.0-3.5 microm) and nanoparticles (3D, size approximately 0.85-2.5 microm). These nanostructures have been revealed by SEM explorations. Attempts have been made to explain the formation of the various nanostructures in terms of the creation and distribution of the ZnOx, the temperature as well as oxygenation conditions.

Undoped and Cu doped ZnO films of two different molarities deposited by spray pyrolysis using zinc nitrate and cupric chloride as precursors show polycrystalline nature and hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO. The crystallite size varies between 10 and 21 nm. Doping increases the transmittance of the films whereas the optical band gap of ZnO is reduced from 3.28 to 3.18 eV. With increment in doping the surface morphology changes from irregular shaped grains to netted structure with holes and then to net making needle-like structures which lends gas sensing characteristics to the films. Undoped ZnO shows maximum sensitivity at 400 ∘ C for higher concentration of CO 2 . The sensitivity of Cu doped sample is maximum at 200 ∘ C for all CO 2 concentrations from 500 to 4000 ppm.