Europium (Eu3+) - doped ZnO nanostructures: Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic, chemical sensing and preliminary assessment of magnetic properties. Issue 12 (15th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumar, Manoj; Singh, Ganesh; Chauhan, M.S.
• Is Part Of: Ceramics international. Volume 47:Issue 12(2021)
• Page Start: 17023
• Page End: 17033
• Publication Date: 2021-06-15
• Subjects: ZnO:Eu -- Ferromagnetism -- Photocatalysis -- Fluorescence; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Céramique industrielle -- Périodiques; Ceramics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.03.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-8842

Abstract

Abstract: We have successfully synthesized single-phase wurtzite hexagonal ZnO:Eu 3+ (1, 5 and 10 mol %) nanoparticles via facile co-precipitation method. The samples have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–visible spectroscopy. Change in optical band gap is explained by invoking the existence 4 f electronic states of Eu 3+ in the band gap of ZnO. Photocatalytic performance of these samples for degradation of methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (Rh B) and picric acid (PA) under UV illumination is found to be 3–3.5 times higher than pure ZnO. However, 5 mol% doping exhibited the highest catalytic efficiency. This sample was also highly sensitive and selective for PA, and the limit of detection was: 1.790 μM, 1.140 μM and 1.751 μM for 1, 5 and 10 mol% Eu 3+ doped ZnO samples respectively. Finally, all samples behave weak ferromagnetically at room temperature, but a systematic increase in the ferromagnetic-like response is noticed with Eu 3+ concentration, despite finding no evidence of secondary magnetic phases; EuO and Eu2 O3 from XRD measurements. Conceivably, the observed ferromagnetic order is attributed to defect induced f 7 – ferromagnetism. Indeed, low concentration of Eu 3+ dopant is found to be more significant, as reported by different groups.