Study of structural, optical and electronic structure properties of Sm2O3-ZnO nanomaterials

In this manuscript, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) doped with 8 and 10 wt. % Sm2O3 were prepared using Co-precipitation method and annealed at 400 °C. The prepared samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy and soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (SXAS) techniques. The surface morphology and particle size distribution were studied using TEM and nano-crystalline samples having particle size of the order of 21-23 nm with spherical shape. The results of UV-Vis spectra indicate that the band gap decreases for 8 wt. % Sm2O3 concentration and further it increased for 10 wt. % Sm2O3-doped ZnO NPs but with negligible change from the band gap value of pure ZnO NPs. The electronic structure properties of the prepared samples characterized using X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements and the analysis showed the presence of oxygen vacancies and one oxidation state of Sm3+. These NPs can be used for various application such as photo-catalytic, gas sensors, varistor ceramics etc.