Synthesis, characterization and photoluminescence studies of samarium doped zinc sulfide nanophosphors

Abstract

Nanoparticles of zinc sulfide doped with samarium ions of different molar concentrations from 1 to 5 mol% were synthesized by co-precipitation method. Various metrological tools were used to characterize the as-synthesized nanoparticles for their structural, nanostructural, chemical, optical and photoluminescence characteristics. The results of powder x-ray diffraction pattern and high-resolution transmission electron microscopic images revealed the presence of samarium inside the zinc sulfide nanoparticles, with particle size between 3 and 7 nm. The purity of the ZnS:Sm nanoparticles were obtained from Fourier transform infrared spectral profiles. Large agglomeration of fine particles was shown by the scanning electron microscope images. The UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was used to study the optical absorption properties of the as-prepared ZnS:Sm sample. Photoluminescence studies of samarium doped zinc sulfide nanoparticles showed two major emission peaks when excited at 365 nm, one in the orange region (603 nm) and the other one in the red region (701 nm) due to f-f transitions of the Sm3+ in the 4f5configuration.