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Abstract Fe incorporation in ZnO lattice draws more oxygen which reduces oxygen vacancies. The smaller size and larger charge of the Fe3+ ion helps to reduce strain initially but with increased substitution generates more strain due to excess oxygen and structural deformation. The mismatch of ionic radii may be addressed by co-substituting with a larger element but with lesser charge. Oxygen defects play a vital role in magnetization and UV-sensing properties of pure ZnO. Oxygen vacancy mediated ferromagnetic exchange interaction should reduce in Fe-doped ZnO due to reduction oxygen vacancies. Similarly UV-sensing should also decrease. Larger sized Na+ co-incorporation, with smaller Fe3+, helps retention of oxygen vacancies in Zn (1- x) Fe (0.8 x) Na (0.2 x) O (0 ≤ x ≤ 4/128) enhancing magnetization and enabling faster UV-sensing properties. The x = 4 ∕ 128 sample reveals promising magnetization and shows faster UV-sensing. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substituting an ion of different size from that of the host element introduces lattice strain and defects. However, this mismatch may be significantly reduced by substituting an additional ion with a compensating size relative to the dopant. Such a double substitution might offer better solubility irrespective of the local distortions as well as the formation of defects in the valence states. Fe-substituted ZnO has been widely reported with conflicting results primarily arising from lack of chemical and structural homogeneity originating from preparation techniques, compositional fluctuations, and equivocal comprehension of actual solubility limits of the dopants. In this study, Ag ion has been incorporated in Fe-substituted ZnO to compensate the ionic size of Zn 1- x [Fe 0.8 Ag 0.2 ] x O (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.03125) by determining the solubility limit of the homogeneous material and their corresponding structural, mechanical, optical and magnetic properties have been investigated thoroughly. Co-substitution rearranges the lattice and leads to better crystal structures with tunable properties related to the amount of substitution., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)