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