Mn-doped ZnO (Zn0.97Mn0.03O) nanorods were synthesized by sol-gel method combined with subsequent heat treatment. The structure and optical property of Mn-doped ZnO nanorods were studied by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and fluorescence. The results of electron microscopes illuminate that the Zn0.97Mn0.03O nanorods are prepared at calcinations of 450 under the protection of nitrogen. The Zn0.97Mn0.03O nanorods are composed of small particles of size 20–30 nm. Fluorescence spectra of Zn0.97Mn0.03O nanorods exhibit that there are two very strong blue emission peaks at 451 nm and 461nm except a strong UV emission at 396 nm.
Optical and structural properties of rare earths-doped ZnO nanorods synthetized by sonochemical method