Preparation and optical properties of Eu3+-doped tin oxide nanoparticles

Eu3+-doped SnO2 nanoparticles with high surface area were generated within the template of the cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) micelle assembly by surfactant-mediated method from the hydrous tin chloride (SnCl4·5H2O) and europium chloride (EuCl3·6H2O). The as-synthesized product was amorphous and transformed into crystalline calcined at 500 °C for 2 h. DSC-TGA, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to examine the morphology and microstructure of the final products. The results showed that the Eu3+-doped SnO2 nanoparticles with diameter of 3-7 nm were obtained. The influences of the molar ratios of Eu3+ and CTAB on the room temperature photoluminescence (RTPL) properties of Eu3+-doped SnO2 nanoparticles were investigated. The results showed that the contents of Eu3+ and CTAB had a great influence on the crystallite sizes and RTPL properties of Eu3+:SnO2 nanoparticles. The maximum of the RTPL intensity can be observed at the molar ratio 5.0% Eu3+ and 10.0% CTAB.