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Title: Synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic activity and ethanol-sensing properties of In{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Eu{sup 3+}:In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4915447· OSTI ID:22391760
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Department of Physics, DAV University, Jalandhar (India)
  2. Laboratory for sensors and physical education, Department of Physics, GND University, Amritsar (India)

In the present endeavor, Indium oxide (In{sub 2}O{sub 3}) and Europium doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} (In{sub 2}O{sub 3}:0.5%Eu{sup 3+} and In{sub 2}O{sub 3}:5%Eu{sup 3+}) nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and UV-Visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis). XRD revealed that nanoparticles were of pure bixbyite-type cubic phase and the crystallite size decreased with the Eu{sup 3+} doping. SEM micrographs showed that particles were spherical in shape. Synthesized nanoparticles were used for photo degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under sunlight and the results clearly showed that In{sub 2}O{sub 3}:5%Eu{sup 3+} nanoparticles exhibited higher activity than pure In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles. For gas sensing characteristics, the nanoparticles were applied as thick film onto alumina substrate and tested at different operating temperatures. The results showed that the optimum operating temperature of the gas sensors prepared from synthesized nanoparticles is 300°C. The investigations revealed that the addition of Eu{sup 3+} as a dopant enhanced the sensing response of In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles appreciably.

OSTI ID:
22391760
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1661, Issue 1; Conference: ICCMP 2014: International Conference on Condensed Matter Physics 2014, Shimla (India), 4-6 Nov 2014; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English