Phase transformation of ZrO2:Tb3+ nanophosphor: Color tunable photoluminescence and photocatalytic activities

Vidya, YS and Gurushantha, K and Nagabhushana, H and Sharma, SC and Anantharaju, KS and Shivakumara, C and Suresh, D and Nagaswarupa, HP and Prashantha, SC and Anilkumar, MR (2015) Phase transformation of ZrO2:Tb3+ nanophosphor: Color tunable photoluminescence and photocatalytic activities. In: JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS, 622 . pp. 86-96.

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Abstract

The current study involves synthesis of a series of Tb3+ doped ZrO2 nanophosphors by solution combustion method using oxalyl dihydrazide as fuel. The as-formed ZrO2:Tb3+ nanophosphors having different concentrations of Tb3+ (1-11 mol%) were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-Visible spectroscopic techniques and the materials were subjected to photoluminescence and photocatalytic dye decolorization studies. The PXRD analysis indicates the formation of tetragonal symmetry up to 5 mol% concentration of Tb3+. Further increase in Tb3+ concentration has lead to cubic phase formation and the same was confirmed by Rietveld refinement analysis. SEM images revealed that material was highly porous in nature comprising of large voids and cracks with irregular morphology. TEM and SAED images clearly confirm the formation of high quality tetragonal nanocrystals. The emissive properties of nanophosphors were found to be dependent on Tb3+ dopant concentration. The green emission of the material was turned to white emission with the increase of Tb3+ ion concentration. The photocatalytic activities of these nanophosphors were probed for the decolorization of Congo red under UV and Sunlight irradiation. All the photocatalysts showed enhanced activity under UV light compared to Sunlight. The photocatalyst with 7 mol% Tb3+ showed enhanced activity attributed to effective separation of charge carriers due to phase transformation from tetragonal to cubic. The influence of crystallite size and PL on charge carrier trapping-recombination dynamics was investigated. The study successfully demonstrates synthesis of tetragonal and cubic ZrO2:Tb3+ green nanophosphors with superior photoluminescence and photocatalytic activities. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to the ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA, PO BOX 564, 1001 LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Solid State & Structural Chemistry Unit
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2015 10:24
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2015 10:24
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/50624

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