Towards a Correlation between Structural, Magnetic, and Luminescence Properties of CeF<sub>3</sub>:Tb<sup>3+</sup> Nanocrystals

oleh: Cristina Bartha, Corina Secu, Elena Matei, Catalin Negrila, Aurel Leca, Mihail Secu

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2020-07-01

Deskripsi

In this study, we report on the structural, magnetic, and optical properties of Tb<sup>3+</sup>-doped CeF<sub>3</sub> nanocrystals prepared via a polyol-assisted route, followed by calcination. X-ray diffraction analysis and electron microscopy investigations have shown the formation of a dominant Ce<sub>0.75</sub>F<sub>3</sub> nanocrystalline phase (of about 99%), with a relatively uniform distribution of nanocrystals about 15 nm in size. Magnetization curves showed typical paramagnetic properties related to the presence of Ce<sup>3+</sup> and Tb<sup>3+</sup> ions. The magnetic susceptibility showed a weak inflexion at about 150 K, assigned to the cerium ions’ crystal field splitting. Under UV light excitation of the Ce<sup>3+</sup> ions, we observed Tb<sup>3+</sup> green luminescence with a quantum yield of about 20%.