Fabrication of nano-sized solid solution of Zn1−x Mn x O (x = 0·05, 0·10, 0·15) in reverse microemulsions: Structural characterization and properties

Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by reverse micellar method using Tergitol NP9 as a surfactant for the first time. These nanoparticles were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction analysis. Structural analysis and optical studies revealed that manganese is incorporated into the ZnO host lattice forming a solid solution. Transmission electron microscopic studies show that the particle size increases from 20–50 nm on increasing the dopant concentration from 0·05–0·15. The specific surface area of Zn\(_{{1-x}}\)MnxO (x = 0·05, 0·10 and 0·15) as calculated using BET method was found to be 202·62, 145·78 and 75·66 m2g − 1, respectively which are higher than the reported values so far.