Synthesis of novel Ln xSb 2− xSe 3 (Ln: Lu 3+, Ho 3+, Nd 3+) nanomaterials via co-reduction method and investigation of their physical properties

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Rare earth ion (Lu 3+, Ho 3+, Nd 3+)-doped Sb 2Se 3 nanomaterials are synthesized by a co-reduction method in hydrothermal condition. Powder XRD patterns indicate that the Ln x Sb 2− x Se 3 crystals (Ln = Lu 3+, x = 0.00–0.12; Ho 3+, x = 0.00–0.1 and Nd 3+, x = 0.00–0.09) are isostructural with Sb 2Se 3. SEM images show that doping of Ho 3+ ions in the lattice of Sb 2Se 3 results in nanorods while that in Nd 3+and Lu 3+leads to nanoflowers and nanoparticles, respectively. High-resolution transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM) studies reveal that the Sb 2Se 3 and Sb 1.90 Ho 0.1Se 3are oriented in the [1 0 −1] growth direction. UV–vis spectra show that an increasing concentration of Ln 3+ions increases the intensity of some peaks in the absorption spectrum of Sb 2Se 3 related to electronic transitions of the Ln 3+ ions in case of Ho 3+ and Nd 3+ doped nanomaterials. Emission spectra of doped materials, in addition to the characteristic red emission peaks of Sb 2Se 3, show other emission bands originating from f–f transitions of the Ho 3+ ions. The electrical conductance of Ln-doped Sb 2Se 3 is higher than the undoped Sb 2Se 3, and increases with temperature.