Novel synthesis, characterization and optical properties of Lu2O3 deposited by electrochemical method

Abstract

Lutetium oxide Lu2O3 thin films were synthesized for the first time onto Fluorine doped Tin Oxide (FTO) and stainless steel substrates using the conventional electrochemical deposition method from lutetium chloride precursor. The as-prepared films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld method, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and the optical properties UV–vis. The formation mechanisms from aqueous medium were determined. The as-deposited oxide was found to be single pure bixbyite type structure with space group Ia3¯. UV–vis spectroscopy showed that the Lu2O3 film had an optical band gap of 5.1eV.