Tailoring of nanostructures: Al doped CuO synthesized by composite-hydroxide-mediated approach

Pure and aluminum doped CuO nanocrystalline material is prepared by composite-hydroxide mediated (CHM) approach. The structural analysis of these superstructures by X-ray diffraction indicates reduction in average crystallite size estimated as 43-36 nm. This is due to formation of point defects and oxygen vacancies produced by the placement of Al atoms in CuO lattice site. Incorporation of Al content in CuO host matrix is evident as the lattice parameter variation, increase in micro-strain and dislocation density. FTIR spectroscopy gives information about the purity of CuO nanostructure formation. Interesting rods, flowers, triangular shapes and rectangular shaped morphological peculiarities provide evidence of Al incorporation at CuO lattice sites. Thermal gravimetric analysis reveals the thermal stability of as synthesized product. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy indicates blue shift in band gap energy from 1.36 to 1.96 eV. This blue shift can be attributed to the existence of defects in the band gap produced by successful incorporation of Al+3 into CuO.