Estimation of accurate size, lattice strain using Williamson-Hall models, SSP and TEM of Al doped ZnO nanocrystals

Abstract

Hexagonal structure of pure and Al doped ZnO nanocrystals were synthesized by co-precipitation technique. The average crystallite size determined from XRD data using Debye Sherrer’s formula was found to be 16.8 nm for pure 19.3 nm for 4% Al Doped ZnO. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) showed single-crystal ZnO nanocrystals with nearly spherical shapes. The W-H analysis and size-strain plot were used to study the individual contributions of crystallite sizes and lattice strain “ε” on the peak broadening of pure and Al doped ZnO nanocrystals. The physical parameters namely strain, stress and anisotropic energy density were calculated considering uniform deformation model (UDM), uniform stress deformation model (USDM) and uniform deformation energy density model (UDEDM) of modified form of W-H analysis. Texture coefficient was estimated using XRD data. The average crystallite size of pure and Al doped ZnO samples estimated from W-H model. It is also revealed from the TEM the diameters of as synthesized samples are in good agreement with the W-H model analysis.