Effect of samarium doping on the physical properties of chemically sprayed titanium dioxide thin films

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films were doped with samarium ion at different concentration ratios (y = ([Sm3+]/[Ti4+]) in the range of 0–1 at. % by a step of 0.25 at. %) and deposited on glass substrates, using a spray pyrolysis technique. Samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy, with a special emphasis on the evolution of their physic-chemical properties as a function of their Sm doping ratio. Typically, a decrease in the crystalline quality of the anatase phase is observed when the nominal Sm content increases from 0.25 to 1 at. %. A change of photoluminescence behavior of the titania films is also evidenced when the Sm content increases. Wemple-Di Domenico single oscillator model was applied in order to study the dispersion parameters as a function of Sm doping ratio.