Impact of ZnO nanoparticles on electrical characteristics of herbal dye-based organic Schottky diode

The electrical parameters like barrier height (ϕ), series resistance (Rs), threshold voltage (Vth) and trap energy (Ec) of a herbal dye-based organic Schottky diode were investigated. Improvement in the outcome of the aforementioned parameters were investigated in the presence of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. It has been observed that the preceding characteristics were likewise affected by ZnO nanoparticles. It has been calculated and shown that the incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles lowered the ϕ of Al/Beet/Cu from 0.75 to 0.73 eV based on I–V characteristics. Analysis of the outcome by using Norde function shows the barrier height reduction from 0.78 to 0.75 eV for the same experiment. Hence, the results produced using two above-mentioned methodologies are in good agreement together. The incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles reduces trap energy and series resistance by 36.98 and 23.81%, respectively, improving current conduction in the bulk regime and lowering the Schottky diode’s threshold voltage (Vth) from 0.74 to 0.45 V. The impact of ZnO nanoparticles on a variety of natural dyes, such as turmeric and indigo, has also been studied. Validation of the results for experimental dyes reveals a wider range of relevance for the current study.