Enhancing the structural, optical and electrical conductivity properties of ZnO nanopowders through Dy doping

•Doping ZnO nanopowders with different Dy percentages was successfully achieved with the co-precipitation method.•XRD analysis reveals a decrease in the lattice parameters and cell volume of the ZnO lattice due to stress relaxation induced by the formation of Dy2O3 secondary on the surface of the nanoparticles.•Crystalline quality was improved on Dy doping.•The optical band gap was decreased on Dy doping where the disorder increased.•Electrical conductivity of ZnO was enhanced by increasing Dy doping concentration up to an optimum doping concentration of 4% and then lowered significantly.