International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 04 Special Issue: 09 | Sep -2017
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
One Day International Seminar on Materials Science & Technology (ISMST 2017) 4th August 2017 Organized by
Department of Physics, Mother Teresa Women’s University, Kodaikanal, Tamilnadu, India
Synthesis and Characterization of Sm2O3 Nanoparticles using combustion method Morris Marieli Antoinette1, S.Israel2 1,2 P.G and Research Department of Physics, The American College, Madurai-625 002, India. ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract - In the past decades, rare earth oxide
nanoparticles have been used in wide range of diverse photoluminescent applications. In the present investigations, we report a simple and inexpensive technique of synthesizing Sm2O3 nanocrystalline powders using combustion method. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to study the structural characterization of the synthesized sample and the results confirmed that samarium sesquioxide nanoparticles having a nanocrystalline structure with a cubic phase were formed. The surface morphology and the size of the particles were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM results confirmed that spherical nanoparticles were formed. The optical properties of the sample were studied using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) data analysis and photoluminescence (PL) studies. These properties revealed that they can be promising materials for luminescent applications. Key Words: Sm2O3 nanoparticles, combustion method, Photoluminescence.
1.INTRODUCTION Nano materials have captured global interest due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties arising from the morphology, dimensionality and size of the materials. These exhibit exceptional and functional electronic, optical, and magnetic properties which has numerous applications in various fields [1-2]. There has been an immense interest in the field of materials science in developing new luminescent materials. Nanoscale phosphors may have advantages over traditional micronsized phosphors. Rare earth oxides have been broadly investigated due to their unique and interesting properties such as enhanced luminescence efficiency; lower lasing threshold, high-performance luminescent devices, catalysts, etc. It is reported that these changes in electrical and optical characteristics of very tiny particles are caused due to quantum effects owing to their high surface to volume ratio, which in turn increases the band gap, and improves surface and interfacial effects [3, 4]. Inorganic © 2017, IRJET
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luminescent materials are of great interest because of their various potential applications. Now-a-days interest in this field is focused on the synthesis of phosphors by using better techniques and investigating novel applications in electronics, photonics, displays, detectors, optical amplification and fluorescent sensing devices. The rare earth oxides have been synthesized by various methods including microwave-assisted, solvothermal, sol gel, hydrothermal, solution combustion, co-precipitation etc. [5-10]. Among rare earth oxides, Samarium oxide (Sm2O3) is one of the important rare earth oxide materials and has been largely studied [11]. Samarium oxide nanoparticles are highly thermally stable and it is suitable for glass, optic, ceramic, catalytic applications, solar cells, nanoelectronics, semiconductor gases and biochemical sensors [12-14]. In this paper we have synthesized Sm2O3 using the combustion method. Of the methods used in material synthesis, combustion processes have some significant advantages, such as low-cost, reduced processing time, high efficiency, simple and convenient. Nanopowders with high purity can be easily synthesized in a very short time.
2. EXPERIMENTAL Samarium (III) nitrate hexahydrate and urea (2.5 gm) were taken in a beaker. Urea was used as a fuel for combustion synthesis. Distilled water was added to it and was kept under magnetic stirring until a homogeneous solution was formed. It was then allowed to dry on a hot plate. The resulting powder was transferred into a crucible and then placed in the furnace at 1000˚C for 3 hours.
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