Effects of Terbium Doping on Structural, Optical and Photocatalytic Properties of ZnO Nanopowder Prepared by Solid-State Reaction

Terbium (Tb) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanopowders with different Tb concentrations (3%, 5% and 7%) were synthesized via a solid-state reaction method and investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared ray spectroscopy. XRD results showed that the nanopowders have hexagonal wurtzite phase with grain size in the range of 20-56 nm with high purity. The photocatalytic efficiency tested on the degradation of methylene blue dye by hydrogen peroxide under natural UV-Vis irradiation at pH similar to 6.4 in 30 min achieved an increasing from about 3.6 to 48%. The optical properties denoted enhancement of its optical absorption in visible range from about 35 to 72%, a decreasing of its bandgap energy from 3.215 to 3.188 eV and intense photoluminescence emission under ultraviolet excitation in the green and blue spectral range whose wave lengths can be adjusted by varying the Tb doping percentage. [GRAPHICS] .

Automated summary

Terbium-doped zinc oxide nanopowders with different Tb concentrations were synthesized and studied for their photocatalytic properties, showing enhanced optical absorption in the visible range, adjustable fluorescence emission wavelengths, and improved degradation efficiency of methylene blue dye under UV-Vis irradiation.