Synthesis, characterization and effect of low energy Ar ion irradiation on gadolinium oxide nanoparticles
- Nanoscience Laboratory, Department of Physics, Tezpur University, Assam, 784028 (India)
Graphical abstract: . The figure depicts Raman spectra of (A) unirradiated and (B) 80 keV Ar ion irradiated nanoscale gadolinium oxide (Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}) systems. Intense Raman signals corresponding to two B{sub g} modes at 288 and 384 cm{sup -1} are observed for irradiated sample along with the evolution of a new peak at 202 cm{sup -1} due to surface defects. Highlights: {yields} Gadolinium oxide nanoparticles are synthesized via a selective reduction route. {yields} 80 keV Ar ion-irradiated specimen showed better symmetric emission than pristine. {yields} Irradiation led point defect contribution was studied through spectroscopic means. -- Abstract: In this work, we report on the surfactant assisted synthesis of gadolinium oxide (Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}) nanoparticles and their characterization through various microscopic and spectroscopic tools. Exhibiting a monoclinic phase, the nanoscale Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles are believed to be comprising of crystallites with an average size of {approx}3.2 nm, as revealed from the X-ray diffraction analysis. The transmission electron microscopy has predicted a particle size of {approx}9 nm and an interplanar spacing of {approx}0.28 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies show that Gd-O inplane vibrations at 536.8 and 413.3 cm{sup -1} were more prominent for 80-keV Ar-ion irradiated Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanosystem than unirradiated system. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of irradiated specimen have revealed an improvement in the symmetry factor owing to significant enhancement of surface-trap emission, compared to the band-edge counterpart. Irradiation induced creation of point defects (oxygen vacancies) were predicted both from PL and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies. Further, the Raman spectra of the irradiated sample have exhibited notable vibrational features along with the evolution of a new peak at {approx}202 cm{sup -1}. This can be ascribed to an additional Raman active vibrational response owing to considerable modification of the nanostructure surface as a result of ion bombardment. Probing nanoscale defects through prime spectroscopy tools would find a new avenue for precise tuning of physical properties with generation and annihilation of defects.
- OSTI ID:
- 22212211
- Journal Information:
- Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 46, Issue 8; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Rare earth niobium oxynitrides, LnNbON{sub 2-{delta}} (Ln = Y, La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy): Synthesis, structure and properties
Ion-beam modification of Gd{sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7}
Related Subjects
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ARGON IONS
ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE
FOURIER TRANSFORM SPECTROMETERS
GADOLINIUM OXIDES
IRRADIATION
MONOCLINIC LATTICES
NANOSTRUCTURES
PARTICLE SIZE
PHOTOLUMINESCENCE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RAMAN SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
SURFACES
SURFACTANTS
SYNTHESIS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION