Effect on the structural, optical and electrical properties of Mn-doped ZnO nanobelts synthesized via the hydrothermal method

The structural, optical and electrical properties of Mn-doped ZnO samples with different percentages of Mn synthesized using the hydrothermal method were studied. The structural properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD patterns analyzed via the Rietveld structure refinement method showed a typical wurtzite structure and no other impurity phases. The lattice parameters calculated for the Mn-doped ZnO from the XRD pattern were found to be slightly larger than those of the ZnO, which indicates the substitution of Mn into the ZnO lattice. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the synthesis of ZnO nanobelts. The incorporation of Mn ions into the ZnO lattice was also confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-spectroscopy. Results show that the increase in Mn concentration increases the gap energy. The study of the electrical properties shows two conduction phenomena. The variation of impedance, dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent is also discussed.