Abstract
The impact of europium (Eu3+) ion doping has been outlined in improving the structure and optical properties of macroporous honeycomb-like zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, produced by the gel-combustion technique by changing the quantity of dopant. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) research verified that the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO was not disturbed by Eu3+ substitution. Scherrer method, Scherrer plots (SP), Williamson-Hall (W–H) plots and Size-Strain plots (SSP) were used to estimate the crystallite size. Decreased crystallite size in ZnO:Eu3+ was noticed along with lower angle shift of XRD peaks and increased lattice parameters such as unit cell volume that can be described as replacement result of Eu3+ at Zn sites. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis confirmed the Eu3+ dopant by moving the peak from 474 cm−1 to 525 cm−1. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) pictures verified macroporous honeycomb-like structures. UV–Visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectroscopic studies show that the ability of ZnO:Eu3+ nanoparticles concerning the absorption of visible light increased upon Eu3+ doping with a red shift compared to ZnO nanoparticles. Photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra of Eu3+ doped ZnO nanoparticles exhibited five intense band emissions at 579, 591, 617, 652, and 706 nm ascribed to 5D0 → 7F0, 5D0 → 7F1, 5D0 → 7F2, 5D0 → 7F3, and 5D0 → 7F4 transitions of Eu3+ ions when excited at 465 nm wavelength, originated from intra-4f transition of Eu3+ ions, respectively. ZnO:Eu3+ nanoparticles intensified with concentration progression and revealed as nanoparticles emitting red under 465 nm excitation.
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