Characterization of Zn-doped CuSCN Nano-powders synthesized via an in situ method for enhanced optical and structural properties

This study investigates the influence of zinc doping on the physical properties of copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) nanopowders synthesized using an in situ method. Pure and zinc-doped CuSCN nanopowders were synthesized and characterized through a multi-technique approach, including scanning electron micr...

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Main Authors: Enas Abdullah Al-Mahdi, A.M. Abdulwahab, Adnan Alnehia, Ahmed AL-Osta, Abdel-Baset Al-Odayni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Results in Chemistry
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211715625001237
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author Enas Abdullah Al-Mahdi
A.M. Abdulwahab
Adnan Alnehia
Ahmed AL-Osta
Abdel-Baset Al-Odayni
author_facet Enas Abdullah Al-Mahdi
A.M. Abdulwahab
Adnan Alnehia
Ahmed AL-Osta
Abdel-Baset Al-Odayni
author_sort Enas Abdullah Al-Mahdi
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the influence of zinc doping on the physical properties of copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) nanopowders synthesized using an in situ method. Pure and zinc-doped CuSCN nanopowders were synthesized and characterized through a multi-technique approach, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–visible spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical measurements, and antibacterial assays. XRD analysis confirmed the rhombohedral structure of all samples, with a slight increase in crystallite size observed in zinc-doped samples (1 % to 7 %) from 39.46 nm to 41.84 nm. The synthesized nanopowders exhibited antibacterial activity against both P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Optical characterization revealed a decrease in both direct and indirect optical band gap energies with increasing zinc content. Furthermore, Zn doping resulted in an enhancement in the dc electrical conductivity of CuSCN. These findings suggest that zinc doping can improve the optoelectronic properties of CuSCN, making it a promising candidate for applications such as hole transport layers (HTLs) in solar cell devices.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Results in Chemistry
spelling doaj-art-c2fc9db3e4f0473f8321355bc3fc57e72025-08-20T02:04:38ZengElsevierResults in Chemistry2211-71562025-03-011410214010.1016/j.rechem.2025.102140Characterization of Zn-doped CuSCN Nano-powders synthesized via an in situ method for enhanced optical and structural propertiesEnas Abdullah Al-Mahdi0A.M. Abdulwahab1Adnan Alnehia2Ahmed AL-Osta3Abdel-Baset Al-Odayni4Physics Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Thamar University, Dhamar 87246, Yemen; Genius University for Sciences & Technology, Dhamar, Yemen; Corresponding author at: Physics Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Thamar University, Dhamar 87246, Yemen.Physics Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Thamar University, Dhamar 87246, Yemen; Corresponding author.Physics Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Thamar University, Dhamar 87246, YemenPhysics Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Thamar University, Dhamar 87246, YemenChemistry Department, Faculty of Education, Thamar University, Dhamar 87246, Yemen; Engineer Abdullah Bugshan Research Chair for Dental and Oral Rehabilitation, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, 11545 Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaThis study investigates the influence of zinc doping on the physical properties of copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) nanopowders synthesized using an in situ method. Pure and zinc-doped CuSCN nanopowders were synthesized and characterized through a multi-technique approach, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–visible spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical measurements, and antibacterial assays. XRD analysis confirmed the rhombohedral structure of all samples, with a slight increase in crystallite size observed in zinc-doped samples (1 % to 7 %) from 39.46 nm to 41.84 nm. The synthesized nanopowders exhibited antibacterial activity against both P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Optical characterization revealed a decrease in both direct and indirect optical band gap energies with increasing zinc content. Furthermore, Zn doping resulted in an enhancement in the dc electrical conductivity of CuSCN. These findings suggest that zinc doping can improve the optoelectronic properties of CuSCN, making it a promising candidate for applications such as hole transport layers (HTLs) in solar cell devices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211715625001237CuSCNOptical propertiesStructural analysisAntibacterial activity
spellingShingle Enas Abdullah Al-Mahdi
A.M. Abdulwahab
Adnan Alnehia
Ahmed AL-Osta
Abdel-Baset Al-Odayni
Characterization of Zn-doped CuSCN Nano-powders synthesized via an in situ method for enhanced optical and structural properties
Results in Chemistry
CuSCN
Optical properties
Structural analysis
Antibacterial activity
title Characterization of Zn-doped CuSCN Nano-powders synthesized via an in situ method for enhanced optical and structural properties
title_full Characterization of Zn-doped CuSCN Nano-powders synthesized via an in situ method for enhanced optical and structural properties
title_fullStr Characterization of Zn-doped CuSCN Nano-powders synthesized via an in situ method for enhanced optical and structural properties
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of Zn-doped CuSCN Nano-powders synthesized via an in situ method for enhanced optical and structural properties
title_short Characterization of Zn-doped CuSCN Nano-powders synthesized via an in situ method for enhanced optical and structural properties
title_sort characterization of zn doped cuscn nano powders synthesized via an in situ method for enhanced optical and structural properties
topic CuSCN
Optical properties
Structural analysis
Antibacterial activity
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211715625001237
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AT adnanalnehia characterizationofzndopedcuscnnanopowderssynthesizedviaaninsitumethodforenhancedopticalandstructuralproperties
AT ahmedalosta characterizationofzndopedcuscnnanopowderssynthesizedviaaninsitumethodforenhancedopticalandstructuralproperties
AT abdelbasetalodayni characterizationofzndopedcuscnnanopowderssynthesizedviaaninsitumethodforenhancedopticalandstructuralproperties