Enhanced Photoluminescence of Europium-Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanoparticles Using a Single-Source Precursor Strategy

Enhanced Photoluminescence of Europium-Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanoparticles Using a Single-Source Precursor Strategy

TiO<sub>2</sub>:Eu<sup>3+</sup> nanoparticles with varying europium concentrations were successfully synthesized via a one-pot sol–gel approach using a molecular heterometallic single-source precursor (SSP) Eu-Ti. For comparison, nanomaterials with similar europium levels wer...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Violaine Mendez, Marlène Fabre, Thibaut Cornier, Françoise Bosselet, Stéphane Loridant, Sarah Asaad, Stéphane Daniele
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
heterometallic alkoxides
single-source precursor
sol–gel process
titania
Eu<sup>3+</sup> doping
luminescent properties
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5824
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:TiO<sub>2</sub>:Eu<sup>3+</sup> nanoparticles with varying europium concentrations were successfully synthesized via a one-pot sol–gel approach using a molecular heterometallic single-source precursor (SSP) Eu-Ti. For comparison, nanomaterials with similar europium levels were also produced by impregnating europium salts onto the same TiO<sub>2</sub> substrate. All the nanomaterials were thoroughly characterized using Eu elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning (SEM), transmission (TEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL). This low-temperature synthesis yielded crystalline powders, and calcination at 400 °C was performed to remove surface organic impurities, enabling a precise comparison of the final nanomaterials. While both preparation methods produced materials with similarly dispersed and localized dopants on the TiO<sub>2</sub> surface, photoluminescence studies revealed that the SSP-derived nanomaterials exhibited significantly superior electro-optical properties. This enhanced efficiency is attributed to the co-hydrolysis of both reactants, which facilitates an optimized interface between the crystalline TiO<sub>2</sub> core and the dopant-rich amorphous surface, thereby enabling far more effective charge transfer than that achieved by impregnation.
ISSN:1420-3049

Similar Items