Study on the structural and photoluminescence properties of Zr doped CeO₂ nanoparticles

Ceria-based nanostructures attain prime significance due to its widespread applicability in microelectronics, fuel cell technologies, gas sensors, solid state electrolytes and oxygen storage devices. In the present work Zr-doped CeO₂ nanoparticles are synthesized using solution combustion method. The concentration of Zr doped was 3, 5 , 7 and 10% in weight percentage. The structural and optical properties of the samples are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, FTIR technique and photoluminescence spectroscopy The XRD pattern confirmed the cubic fluorite structure of ceria. The crystal structure, lattice parameter and crystallite size have been analysed from XRD showing systematic changes with dopant content. The FTIR spectrum clearly indicates the strong presence of cerium oxide nanoparticles. The broad and intense vibration mode near 500 cm^-1 attributes the stretching vibration of metal oxide (Ce-O) in the sample and indicates the formation of CeO₂. The PL spectrum shows characteristic peaks of CeO₂ nanoparticles. The intensity of the emission increases lightly with dopant concentration. The maximum emission is observed for 3% Zr doped sample and it reduces in accordance with the increase of dopant concentration. These changes are understood in view of the presence of oxygen vacancies and presence in interstitials with the change in the Zr concentration in the samples