The Effect of Ni2+ Ions on Energy Band gap of TiO2 Nanoparticles for Solar Cell Applications

P. Soni; V. V. S. Murty; K. K. Kushwaha

Abstract

Pure TiO2 and Nickel doped TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by chemical synthesis route with different doping percent of Nickel at 4500 C annealing temperature. UV-Visible and XRD characterizations were performed to know the doping effect of Nickel in pure TiO2. XRD results show increased particle size with doping of Ni2+, the particle size of samples are in the range of 27.43 nm to 45.85 nm. UV-Visible results revealed decreased band gap energy due to Nickel doping and shifts optical absorption of TiO2 in the visible spectral region in the solar spectrum. Doping of transition metal Ni enhanced electrical conductivity of TiO2 semiconductor nanoparticles and improved optical transparency at very low cost. The band gap energy of pure TiO2 was found to be 3.18 eV and decreased to 2.86 eV with 0.05 mole% Ni doping in TiO2. Easy and cheap route for synthesis of pure TiO2 and Ni doped TiO2 nanoparticles has been reported, these nano-materials are used for making photo anodes for solar cell applications.Keywords: XRD, UV-Vis, nanoparticles, Energy band gap, solar cell.