Structural, optical and antibacterial activity studies of neodymium doped ZnO nanoparticles

Trivalent neodymium doped ZnO (Zn1−xNdxO, x = 0.0, 0.03, 0.06 and 0.09) nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by co-precipitation method with improved optical and antibacterial performance is reported. X-ray diffraction pattern indicates most of Nd3+ ions are incorporated in Zn2+ ions of ZnO lattice and hence there is no secondary peak of NdO3 in synthesized ZnO NPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of synthesized NPs exhibits similar patterns in Zn/Nd–O bands observed at 480 cm−1. High resolution scanning electron microscopy images revealed the formation of spindle like morphology and the incorporation of Nd ions is confirmed by energy dispersive spectra analysis. UV–visible absorption spectra of pure and Nd doped ZnO NPs showed the variation of the band gap in the range of 3.06–2.65 eV. Raman analysis confirmed the formation of wurtzite structure of NPs was distorted due to Nd substitution in ZnO matrix. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the Nd incorporation in the ZnO lattice as Nd3+. The prepared Nd doped ZnO NPs showed potential application in antibacterial activities.