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Zn-doped SnO₂ nanoparticles: structural, optical, and electrical properties for optoelectronic applications

P. N. PALANISAMY1,* , S. SIVAKUMAR2, B. SANGEETHA3, B. ESTHER BHARATHI2

Affiliation

  1. Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mahendra College of Engineering Salem, Tamilnadu, India
  2. Department of Physics, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem, Tamilnadu, India
  3. Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, AVS Engineering College, Salem, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

Zn-doped SnO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol-gel method, employing tin chloride pentahydrate (SnCl₄·5H₂O) and zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O) as precursors, with a 5% Zn-to-Sn molar ratio. Acetic acid was used as a stabilizing agent, and the obtained gel was thermally treated at 400 °C to yield Zn-doped SnO₂ nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the tetragonal rutile phase of SnO₂, with slight lattice distortion attributed to Zn incorporation and the associated formation of oxygen vacancies. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy verified the presence of Zn-O and Sn-O bonding. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed a red-shift in the absorption edge and a bandgap of 3.50 eV, indicating slight bandgap narrowing due to defect-induced states. Photoluminescence (PL) studies showed both near band-edge and defect-related emissions, confirming the presence of oxygen vacancy related states. The I-V characteristics exhibited linear (Ohmic) behavior at low bias and nonlinear behavior at higher bias, consistent with space-charge-limited conduction (SCLC). The combined structural, optical, and electrical results indicate that Zn doping effectively modifies the electronic structure and defect landscape of SnO₂ nanoparticles, suggesting potential for optoelectronic and photocatalytic applications..

Keywords

Zn-doped SnO₂, Nanoparticles, Sol-gel synthesis, XRD, Bandgap tuning.

Submitted at: July 16, 2025
Accepted at: Aug. 4, 2026

Citation

P. N. PALANISAMY, S. SIVAKUMAR, B. SANGEETHA, B. ESTHER BHARATHI, Zn-doped SnO₂ nanoparticles: structural, optical, and electrical properties for optoelectronic applications, Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials Vol. 28, Iss. 7-8, pp. 329-337 (2026)