Tuning the structural, optical, and dielectric properties of europium-doped barium titanate ceramics

Abstract This study explores the optical and dielectric properties of pure and europium-doped barium titanate ceramics with formula Ba 1−3 x /2 Eu x TiO 3 (x=0, 0. 005, 0. 015 and 0. 025 x = 0, 0. 005, 0. 015 and 0. 025). The materials were synthesized using the solid-state reaction method. The influence of Eu + 3 ion incorporation on the crystal structure was examined using XRD, which indicated the formation of a cubic phase. Lattice parameter measurements showed excellent agreement with various theoretical models for predicting the lattice constant, with an average error of only 0. 20%. UV–visible spectroscopy analysis is utilized to investigate optical characteristics, revealing a decrease in the optical band gap from 2. 65 to 2. 77 eV post-Eu doping, which is notably lower than the bulk barium titanate value of 3. 2 eV. Materials with smaller band gaps are more suited for optoelectronic applications like photodetectors and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The dielectric response of europium-doped barium titanate was studied across a frequency range of 1 kHz to 2 MHz and a temperature range of 77 to 300 K, showing remarkable stability. The frequency-dependent dielectric analysis revealed that the dielectric constant initially increased with increasing doping concentration, but decreased at higher concentrations. These results suggest that europium-doped barium titanate holds significant promise for future electronic device applications due to its enhanced optical and dielectric properties.