Photoluminescence, photocatalytic and electrochemical performance of La10Si6O27:Sm3+ nanophosphor: It's applications in display, photocatalytic and electrochemical sensor

Abstract

The current research work presents the preparation of Samarium (1–9 mol%) doped Lanthanum Silicate (La10Si6O27:Sm3+) nanophosphors (LNPs) by means of solution combustion synthesis utilizing Oxalidihydrazide as a fuel. The prepared LNPs were described by Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) studies, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Photoluminescence (PL) studies. The normal crystallite size of oxyapatite hexagonal phase LNPs were in the range of 10–20 nm as determined by Scherrer's technique and the equivalent was confirmed by TEM. Band gap energy was found in the range of 4.8–5.1 eV utilizing DRS. PL investigations of the LNPs show all the characteristic emissions of Sm3+ cations related to transitions 4G5/2→6Hj/2 (j = 5,7,9,11) and optimal emission intensity was observed for 3 mol% addition of Sm3+ ions with orange red emission as depicted in the CIE. CV and EIS results uncover the great electrochemical properties of LNPs, which detect effectively Paracetamol and Sildenafil (Penegra) utilizing modified carbon paste electrodes. Results show that the blended LNPs can be a potential candidate for displays, catalytic and electrochemical sensor applications.