Comparison between CrZO and AlZO thin layers and the effect of doping on the lattice properties of zinc oxide

摘要

Abstract This work aims to study and compare the effect of doping with two elements (chromium and aluminum) and the addition ratio (0, 2, 5, and 8) on the structural, morphological, surface, optical, and photocatalysis properties of zinc oxide thin films. Thin layers were prepared using the sol–gel deposition dip-coating technique on a glass slide. The X-ray analysis proved that the crystal structure of ZnO is of the type wurtzite; its effect was evident through a decrease in the intensity of the peaks and their shift towards the most prominent angles. The results of AFM showed an increase in the surface roughness during doping, as it gave a more effective surface during the use of Al element than during the use of Cr. The shape of the spherical grains was confirmed by the SEM device, where we obtained a larger size of the grains with a porous surface in the case of doping with Al compared with Cr. Based on the transmittance spectrum, the energy gap of the samples was calculated, which was found to have increased with doping, where ZnO had an energy gap of 3.23 eV, and its value in the case of doping with 8 of Cr and Al reached (3.24 and 3.29) eV, respectively. A good surface for the AlZO sample made it more catalytic. It gave it the most significant gradient rate, estimated at 55.23 during a time of 180 min, compared to the CrZO sample, which was estimated at 32.99 during the same period.Graphical abstract