Influence of Mg concentration on structural, morphological and optical properties of nanoceria

Nano crystalline pure and Mg doped ceriaparticles were synthesized by simple chemical co-precipitation method using cerium nitrate hexahydrate as a source material and magnesium nitrate as doping precursor at room temperature. The effect of doping were investigated by X-ray diffraction pattern(XRD), FT-Raman,fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), Ultraviolet spectroscopy(UV), photoluminescence spectroscopy(PL), field emission scanning electron microscope(FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (HRTEM &EDS). The X-ray diffraction pattern and FT-Raman studies showed that the prepared samples were nano particulates with cubic fluorite structure. The XRD pattern analysis showed that the size of the particles ranged from 13 to 20 nm, however 4 wt% Mg doping results in reduction of particle size compared with other doping concentrations. The effects of Mg concentration on various structural parameters of the prepared samples were also determined. The slight blue shift observed upon doping in UV-Vis absorption region around 330-360nmrecorded for reduction in particle size. The FTIR unveils the presence of Metal oxygen bonds below 700 cm−1in the prepared samples. All samples showed a broad emission band at 430 nm with linearly increasing intensity with respect to dopant concentrations. The Spherical morphology with weak agglomeration was identified through FESEM and HRTEM analysis. The elemental analysis of Ce, O and Mg were confirmed through EDS analysis.