Spectroellipsometric and photoluminescent studies of SnOx nanostructures doped with Sm ions

Graphical abstract: Highlights: → The SnOx and SnOx:Sm2O3 (5 wt%) nanoparticle samples were synthesized. → These nanoparticles exhibited orange emission. → Samariums ions in SnOx nanostructures enhanced huge photoluminescence efficiency. → The optical properties of SnO2:Sm3+ nanocrystals were extracted from ellipsometrical measurements. → Such nanocrystals are a direct semiconductor with a gap of ∼3.6 eV. - Abstract: We present results on the photoluminescence and optical properties of SnOx nanocrystals as a function of their size. Samariums ions are incorporated in SnOx nanostructures to huge improve their photoluminescence efficiency. We have performed photoluminescent, ellipsometrical, atomic force microscopy, and structural studies of these nanocrystals and found them to be a direct semiconductor with a gap of ∼3.6 eV. The origin of the observed photoluminescence has been discussed. The doping of lanthanide atoms in semiconductor nanocrystals expands the range of possibilities offered by such materials, allowing them to be modified to meet specific requirements in electronic and optoelectronic applications.