Influence of Mg doping on structural, dielectric properties and Urbach energy in ZnO ceramics.

This study investigated the impact of magnesium doping on structural, optical, and dielectric properties of zinc oxide. Magnesium-doped ZnO (Zn_1−xMg_xO) samples were synthesized and characterized with varying doping levels (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03) using solid state reaction, employing techniques including X-ray Diffraction(XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Impedance Spectroscopy and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS). The synthesized samples show single-phase hexagonal wurtzite structure, indicating successful doping of magnesium in ZnO lattice. FESEM micrograph revealed voids in doped samples. Doping reduces the dielectric constant of ZnO and shows dielectric loss > 200 °C in doped sample. Magnesium doping decreased ZnO's band gap, altering its electronic properties and optical behavior. Urbach energy increased with doping and inversely linked to dielectric constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]