The effects of nanoporous Fe2O3 synthesized via mechano-thermal process on electrical and optical properties of zinc oxide

Highlights: • The nanoporous hematite with iron core was prepared by using a specific method including ball milling and annealing processes. • The hematite is a nanoporous material with particle size of as 40-50. • Electrical and optical properties of the ZnO is improved with nanoporous Fe₂O₃. - Abstract: This study was performed to investigate the effects of nanoporous hematite (Fe₂O₃) the electrical and optical properties on zinc oxide. Zinc oxide powder was commercially obtained. The nanoporous hematite with iron core was prepared using a specific method including ball milling and annealing processes. The particle size of the nanoporous hematite was determined to be 40–50 nm using an electron microscope. The electrical conductivity values of pure ZnO and the composites with 1% Fe₂O₃, 3% Fe₂O₃, and 5% Fe₂O₃ were obtained to be 6.55 × 10⁻⁵, 5.35 × 10⁻⁴, 3.79 × 10⁻⁴ and 1.29 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm, respectively. The nanoporous Fe₂O₃ with iron core increases the electrical conductivity of the ZnO-nanoporous:Fe₂O₃ composites. The optical band gap (E_g) values of the composites were determined by the Kubelka-Munk theory based on the diffused reflectance. As the nanoporous Fe₂O₃ content is increased, the E_g values of the composites are decreased. The obtained results indicate that the electrical and optical properties of the ZnO semiconductor is improved with the nanoporous Fe₂O₃.