Effect of Ni Doping on ZnO Nanorods Synthesized Using a Low-Temperature Chemical Bath

The present study evaluates the effects of Ni doping of ZnO nanorods synthesized using the low-temperature chemical bath method. The article is motivated by the apparent variability in the literature which report contrasting results on the effect of Ni doping of the ZnO host matrix. The choice of method was decided by the accepted belief of its high reproducibility and accuracy. The concentration of Ni in the ZnO nanostructure host matrix is varied from 0%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% Ni. The products were characterized using several standard techniques. The various results are found to reinforce each other and show that the presence of Ni enters the host matrix as Ni2+ and alters the ZnO nanostructure dimensions and morphology significantly. This study provides direct spectroscopic evidence of the modification of the ZnO crystal structure by the incorporation of Ni. This article therefore provides much needed clarification of the mechanisms of local ZnO nanorod symmetry modification by Ni.