Effect of Niobium Dopant on ZnO Thin Films Prepared via the Sol–gel Spin Coating Method

Authors

• Kevin Alvin Eswar, NANO-SciTech Centre, Centre for Functional Materials and Nanotechnology, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Selangor 40450, MalaysiaFollow
• Nur Fairuz Rostan, NANO-SciTech Centre, Centre for Functional Materials and Nanotechnology, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Selangor 40450, Malaysia
• Maryam Mohamad, NANO-SciTech Centre, Centre for Functional Materials and Nanotechnology, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Selangor 40450, Malaysia
• Rabiatuladawiyah Md Akhir, NANO-SciTech Centre, Centre for Functional Materials and Nanotechnology, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Selangor 40450, Malaysia
• Rosfayanti Rasmidi, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sabah Branch Tawau Campus, Tawau 91032, Malaysia
• Muliyadi Guliling, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sabah Branch Tawau Campus, Tawau 91032, Malaysia
• Najwa Ezira Azhar, NANO-SciTech Centre, Centre for Functional Materials and Nanotechnology, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Selangor 40450, Malaysia
• Irmaizatussyehdany Buniyamin, NANO-SciTech Centre, Centre for Functional Materials and Nanotechnology, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Selangor 40450, Malaysia
• Mohd Firdaus Malek, NANO-SciTech Centre, Centre for Functional Materials and Nanotechnology, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Selangor 40450, Malaysia
• Mohamad Rusop Mahmood, NANO-SciTech Centre, Centre for Functional Materials and Nanotechnology, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Selangor 40450, Malaysia
• Husairi Fadzilah Suhaimi, NANO-SciTech Centre, Centre for Functional Materials and Nanotechnology, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Selangor 40450, Malaysia
• Saifollah Abdullah, NANO-SciTech Centre, Centre for Functional Materials and Nanotechnology, Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Selangor 40450, Malaysia

Abstract

Thin films of zinc oxide (ZnO) and niobium (Nb)-doped ZnO were deposited on a glass substrate using the sol–gel spin coating method. Diethanolamine, isopropyl alcohol, and zinc acetate served as the stabilizers, solvent, and starting ma-terial, respectively. Niobium pentachloride was employed as the dopant source. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis con-firmed Nb incorporation. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultravio-let–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) analyses characterized the morphology, structure, and optics of the films, respective-ly. Both films, comprising nanoparticles, were visible in FESEM. Nb doping reduced the particle size from 44.2 nm to 35.8 nm. The XRD peaks at 31.23°, 33.48°, and 35.7° indicate the (100), (002), and (101) orientations, respectively. Nb-doped ZnO exhibited enhanced visible-range transmission in UV–Vis analysis. However, UV spectrum transmission significantly decreased. Nb doping reduced the optical bandgap of ZnO from 3.30 eV to 3.27 eV.

Recommended Citation

Eswar, Kevin Alvin; Rostan, Nur Fairuz; Mohamad, Maryam; Md Akhir, Rabiatuladawiyah; Rasmidi, Rosfayanti; Guliling, Muliyadi; Azhar, Najwa Ezira; Buniyamin, Irmaizatussyehdany; Malek, Mohd Firdaus; Mahmood, Mohamad Rusop; Suhaimi, Husairi Fadzilah; and Abdullah, Saifollah (2025) "Effect of Niobium Dopant on ZnO Thin Films Prepared via the Sol–gel Spin Coating Method," Makara Journal of Science: Vol. 29: Iss. 1, Article 1.
DOI: 10.7454/mss.v29i1.2297
Available at: https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/science/vol29/iss1/1