Open Access

ARTICLE

Synthesis, characterization of zirconium doped cobalt nanoparticles and study of their thermoelectric properties

Y. Arooj^a, A. Farhan^b, S. Maqsood^a,c, A. Erum^a, M. Ishaq^d, S. Rafique^a, A. Khalid^b, F. Wazahat^a, M. A. Qamar^e,*

a Department of Physics, Government College Women University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
b Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
c Department of Physics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
d Department of Physics, Riphah International University Faisalabad Campus, Faisalabad.
e Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan

* Corresponding Author:

Chalcogenide Letters 2025, 22(8), 707-717. https://doi.org/10.15251/CL.2025.228.707

Received 15 May 2025; Accepted 11 August 2025;

Abstract

Chemical co-precipitation synthesis was used to make pure and zirconium-doped cobalt sulfide (Co3S4) nanoparticles (NPs). Important characterizations such as FTIR, UV-VIS, Raman, PL, SEM, XRD, and four probe methods were used to examine the influence of the Zr (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) doping on optical, electrical, structural, and thermoelectric characteristics of Co₃S₄ NPs. X-ray diffraction and SEM examination verified the cubic structure and grain size of pure and Zr-doped Co₃S₄-NPs. The FTIR spectrum revealed the rotational and vibrational modes linked to the material's surface. The material is optimal for photocatalytic activity with a redshift in the band gap value (Eg) as a function of Zr dopant and exhibit very good absorbance in the optical region. Raman and PL spectroscopy examined the vibrational modes, optical and electrical properties of the prepared samples. The measurement of the thermoelectric effect showed that all samples approached the critical value of the temperature where the current started decreasing.

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