Effect of hydrogen-related shallow donor on the physical and chemical properties of Ag-doped ZnO nanostructures

Abstract Silver-doped zinc oxide nanostructures (Ag/ZnO NSs) with Ag content of 0 wt%, 5 10 and 20 wt% were synthesized using a hydrothermal technique. The prepared annealed at 500 °C for 2 h. samples characterized by scanning electron microscopy, FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical conductivity. FTIR spectra confirms the presence hydrogen-related shallow donor defects in Ag/ZnO NSs, which bind to oxygen vacancy ( $${\text{H}}_{\text{O}}$$ H O ) consequently plays significant role physicochemical properties metal nanostructures. are blended O- Zn-polar Ag-doped ZnO depending on their polarity. XRD results verified that NSs have polycrystalline hexagonal structure. Williamson–Hall methods used estimate microstructural conductivity increased from 0.60 1.10 µS/cm, bandgap energy decreased 3.36 3.10 eV increasing up wt%.