| In this work, pure and Cu-doped ZnO samples (Zn1-xCu xO, x=0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, 0.12, 0.14) have been prepared using microwave assisted polyol method from zinc and copper acetates dissolved into diethylene glycol (DEG) at 180 °C and 200 °C.;The structure, morphology and optical properties of synthesized pure and doped samples have been characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and UV-visible light spectroscopy (UV-vis).;XRD results showed that pure ZnO and Cu-doped ZnO synthesized by microwave assisted polyol method at 180 °C and 200 °C have a hexagonal structure. The results showed that the grain size increases with increasing temperature whereas it decreases with increasing Cu doping concentration. In the present investigation we did not observe any noticeable change in the lattice parameters of Cu- doped ZnO for all synthesized samples.;X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) technique has provided elemental and chemical information of Cu-doped ZnO samples and the results emphasized the presence of Cu+2 within Zn+2 crystals.;FESEM investigation of pure ZnO and Cu-doped ZnO synthesized by microwave assisted polyol method at 180ºC and 200ºC showed spherical primary particles consisting of agglomerated nanoparticles. The samples synthesized at 180ºC had spherical shape more regularity than those samples synthesized at 200ºC.;EDX spectra clearly confirm the chemical purity of the investigated samples. The chemical composition of samples indicates two components; Zn and O for pure samples whereas three components: Zn, Cu and O for doped ZnO samples.;The effect of doping on the band gap of ZnO was studied by UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results showed that the energy band gap of synthesized ZnO decreases very slightly from 3.29 to 3.26 eV with increasing Cu doping concentration within the ZnO samples. |
