Optical studies of samarium-doped fluoride nanoparticles

Samarium-doped calcium fluoride (CaF2) nanoparticles were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical absorption and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. The PXRD patterns confirmed the cubic crystallinity of the synthesized nanoparticles. The average particle size estimated using Scherer's formula was similar to 20 nm. The purity of the synthesized nanoparticles was confirmed by the FTIR spectrum. The morphological features studied using SEM revealed that the nanoparticles were agglomerated and porous. The optical absorption spectrum showed a strong and prominent absorption peak at similar to 264 nm and a weak one at similar to 212 nm. The PL spectrum showed broad and prominent emissions with peaks at similar to 387 and 532 nm along with weak emissions at 573 and 605 nm.