Structural and optical properties of phase transformation Barium doped HfO2 nanorods-Synthesis and characterization

Barium doped HfO2 nanoparticles (Ba-HfO2 NPs) were synthesized by a simple co-precipitation method using HfCl4 and (Ba (OH)2·H2O) as precursors. Stoichiometries compositions were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy. X-Ray diffraction pattern analysis of Ba doped HfO2 NPs revealed the occurrence of structural transformation from monoclinic phase to orthorhombic phase. TEM analysis confirms the formation of nanorods having the aspect ratio (length/diameter) of ∼1.99 with less agglomeration which could be used for sensor applications. UV-vis spectroscopy analysis revealed that the optical energy band gap of as prepared NPs is 5.4 eV and calcined NPs is 5.1 eV.