Influence of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Surfactant on the Properties of Molybdenum-Doped Zinc Oxide Films

David C. Okeudo; Temam Abdudin Geremu; Agnes C. Nkele*; B. C. N Obitte; I. L. Ikhioya; Chinedu P. Chime; Ugochi K. Chime; Fabian I. Ezema

Authors

David C. Okeudo Department of Physics and Astronomy
Temam Abdudin Geremu Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria Nsukka, 410001 Nsukka, Nigeria
Agnes C. Nkele* Department of Physics and Astronomy
B. C. N Obitte Department of Physics and Astronomy
I. L. Ikhioya Department of Physics and Astronomy
Chinedu P. Chime Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering
Ugochi K. Chime Department of Physics and Astronomy
Fabian I. Ezema Department of Physics and Astronomy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4633-1417

Keywords:

ZnO, PEG, molybdenum, band gap, solar cell

Abstract

In this work, the effect of dopant (molybdenum) concentration on the structural, morphological, elemental, and optical properties of surfactant (PEG)-assisted Mo-doped ZnO thin film which were synthesized using hydrothermal method were studied. The XRD and EDS characterizations showed separate and prominent peak stands for Mo which not observed in the control sample (undoped ZnO). The optical properties of the films, such as absorbance, transmittance, reflectance and band gaps energy were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The samples recorded average absorbance in the visible region, which reduced towards the near-infrared region; with the 0.5 M sample recording the best absorbance property. Higher reflectance values were observed for PEG-assisted Mo-ZnO samples as compared with the undoped ZnO. As the concentration of the dopant (Mo) increase, the band gap energy of the PEG-assisted Mo-doped ZnO thin films decrease. The synthesized samples find potential application in solar cells and photovoltaic devices.

Author Biography

Agnes C. Nkele*, Department of Physics and Astronomy

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