Luminescent characterization of rare earth Dy3+ ion doped TiO2 prepared by simple chemical co-precipitation method

Abstract

Pure and rare-earth ion (Dy3+) doped TiO2 nanomaterials were prepared through a chemical co-precipitation method. The chemical composition, microstructure and optical properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL). XPS analysis reveals that Dy3+ ions are preferentially occupied in the TiO2 crystallite lattices. Both the XRD and TEM analyses confirm that both the pure and Dy doped TiO2 are in pure anatase phase and in nano size range, respectively. Also it is found that the maximum solubility limit for Dy3+ ions is found to be 0.4% in TiO2 matrix, above which it occupies interstitials and/or crystallite surface of TiO2 nanocrystals. From the UV-Vis spectroscopy studies it is found that Dy doping induces blue shift in TiO2. From the PL analysis it is found that doping Dy3+ improves the luminescence behavior in comparison with the pure TiO2 nanoparticles. Overall, doping very low concentrations of Dy3+ greatly alters the structural morphology and directly increases the luminescence behavior of TiO2 suitable for advanced optoelectronic applications.