Oxygen vacancy driven luminescence, ferromagnetic and electronic structure properties of Eu doped CeO2 nanoparticles

Chemical co-precipitation route prepared nanoparticles of CeO2 and rare-earth cation Eu-doped Ceria Ce1-xEuxO2 (x = 0.03, 0.05, and 0.07) were investigated for various properties. Strained and phase maintained doped nanoparticles with crystallite sizes between 13 and 26 nm were confirmed by XRD, Rietveld refinement and UV-Vis-NIR measurements. Strained nanoparticles by replacement of host Ce with Eu in +2 and + 3 states were confirmed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy analyses which also, relate the crop of oxygen vacancies with the concentration of Eu doping by analysing Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio. Formation of various complexes involving host and doped cations and mediated by oxygen vacancies indicate the formation of F0, F+ and F2+ centres. Photo-luminescence studies and their CIE chromaticity diagram underline the possible usage of these nanoparticles in Light Emitting Diodes due to production of light under 5000K. All the characterization techniques were on the same page in indicating our findings. F-centre exchange (FCE) and Bound Magnetic Polarons (BMP) mechanisms were underlined for the observed weak ferromagnetic behaviour along with M-T studies. A systematic study on the concentration of Eu-doping in CeO2 nano-particle to understand the role of oxygen vacancies and their effect on tailoring the luminescence, electronic structure and magnetic properties for variety of applications.

Automated summary

Nanoparticles of CeO2 and rare-earth cation Eu-doped Ceria Ce1-xEuxO2 (x = 0.03, 0.05, and 0.07) were prepared by chemical co-precipitation route and investigated for their various properties. The doped nanoparticles showed strain and phase maintained structures, with crystallite sizes between 13 and 26 nm. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy analyses confirmed the replacement of Ce with Eu in different oxidation states, as well as the correlation between oxygen vacancies and Eu doping concentration. The formation of complexes involving host and doped cations, mediated by oxygen vacancies, indicated the presence of F0, F+, and F2+ centres.