Optical properties of Sm-doped ceria nanostructured films grown by electrodeposition at low temperature

Nanostructured undoped and samarium doped ceria thin nanocolumnar films are electrodeposited onto (FTO) glass substrates at low-temperature (30 °C) with a subsequent thermal annealing at 600 °C for 1 h. Films are obtained from mixed Sm3+/Ce3+ aqueous nitrate solutions, applying a −0.8 V/(SCE) potential for 1 h. Cubic fluorite type ceria nanostructured films of high crystal quality are synthesized as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. SEM analysis demonstrates that doping with Sm improves the quality of the film with respect to crack formation. The incorporation and activation of the Sm3+ ions in the ceria host as well as the Stark splitting of the manifolds responsible for emission in the red-orange spectral range are investigated by means of photoluminescence spectroscopy.

► Nanostructured undoped and Sm doped ceria thin films are grown on FTO glass substrates by electrodeposition. ► Doping with Sm improves the quality of the film with respect to crack formation. ► Analysis of luminescence spectrum is indicative of a predominant incorporation of the Sm ions into the Ce sites. ► Stark splitting analysis suggests that some samarium ions are situated in non-equivalent crystallographic sites.