Abstract
In the present work, Cd1-xCoxO (x = 0.00, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, and 0.10) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed the formation of a single phase of cubic CdO crystal structure in all the prepared samples. The Scherrer's equation and Williamson-Hall (W-H) analysis were used to study the individual contributions of crystallite sizes and lattice strain on the peak broadening of the CdO NPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that the nanoparticles agglomerate with almost spherical or hexagonal shapes. The results showed that the average crystallite sizes estimated from the Scherrer's equation, W-H analysis, and TEM were highly intercorrelated. Moreover, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra confirmed the presence of cadmium, cobalt, and oxygen in the Co-doped CdO NPs. In addition, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy exhibited the stretching vibrational modes of CdO phase and revealed a peak shift between undoped and Co-doped CdO NPs. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy reflected a red shift of the absorption edge with an increase in Co doping concentration, indicating a decrease in the optical band gap. Finally, the magnetic hysteresis (M-H) loops of all samples displayed a ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature with the enhancement of antiferromagnetic coupling of Co-Co interaction by increasing Co concentration. As a result, the overall magnetization of all samples was reduced with increasing Co concentration.