Green-Synthesized Yttrium-Doped Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles: A Promising Optical Material

This work focuses on the green synthesis, characterization, and optical properties of yttrium-doped cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanoparticles. A green approach was adopted using Acacia concinna fruit extract as surfactant and stabilizing agent. Their structural, morphological, and physical-chemical properties were characterized using different analytical techniques, like XRD, FE-SEM, FTIR, PL, Raman, UV-Visible Spectroscopy. XRD study validated the structure of cubic fluorite-type structure of CeO2 nanoparticles, with the average crystallite size ranging between 7-15 nm. Raman spectroscopy validated this structure with F2g band observed at 463 cm−1. FESEM images showed irregular spherical morphologies with grain sizes in the range of 50-60 nm. The CeO2 nanoparticles exhibited a prominent absorption peak at 345 nanometers in the UV-Visible spectrum signifies the presence of Ce-O bonding. Increase in the Y-doping concentration in CeO2 lattice shifted the bandgap energy from 2.9 eV to 3.3 eV as evident from the Tauc plot. The PL spectra of yttrium-doped CeO2 nanoparticles exhibited a prominent emission peak at 468 nm, attributed to oxygen vacancies in the lattice. The yttrium-doped CeO2 nanoparticles exhibited strong visible light absorption and photoluminescence emission which make them potential candidates for different optical applications.