Effect of Co Doping on the Structural and Dielectric Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles.

This paper reports on the synthesis of Co doped Zn1-xCoxO (x= 0.0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.05) nanoparticles by solution combustion method using urea as a fuel. The Structural and dielectric properties of the samples were studied. Crystallite sizes were obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns whose values decreased with increase in Co concentration. The XRD study reveals that Co2+ ions substitute the Zn2+ ion without changing the wurtzite structure of pristine ZnO up to Co concentrations of 5%. The dielectric constants, dielectric loss (tanδ) and ac conductivity (σac) were studied as the function of frequency and composition, which have been explained by Maxwell-Wagner type interfacial polarization and discussed Koops phenomenological theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]