Synthesis, characterization, optical and magnetic properties of pure and Mn, Fe and Zn doped NiO nanoparticles.

Graphical abstract Highlights • NiO doped by different transition elements nanoparticles were successfully prepared by chemical co-precipitation method. • Ferromagnetic behavior was observed for different doped NiO nanoparticles. • The optical band gap was strongly dependent on the doped transition element type. • These nanoparticles can be useful for biomedical applications. Abstract Pure and 2% Mn, Fe and Zn doped NiO nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation method at calcination temperature 550 °C. They were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, proton induced x-ray emission, Rutherford Back Scattering, Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, M-H loop and electron paramagnetic resonance. The obtained results indicate that the lattice parameter, crystalline size, direct energy gap and chemical functional group are significantly dependent on the kind of dopant element. Moreover, the dopant elements are not affected by the ferromagnetic nature of NiO nanoparticles while g-factor varies according to the kind of dopant elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]