Photoluminescence in europium ion–substituted bismuth niobate particles

ABSTRACT

In order to understand the influence of the substitution of europium ion for bismuth ion in the structural and photoluminescence properties of bismuth niobate, bismuth niobate ceramic powders, with different amount of europium ion, were prepared using sol–gel citrate route. The structural and morphological studies were made with X-ray diffraction, Raman, and scanning electron microscopy measurements. Rietveld’s analysis of X-ray diffraction proves the formation and increment of europium niobate phase in europium ion–substituted bismuth niobate samples with increase of europium ion concentration. Photoluminescence results also concur to that of X-ray diffraction and Raman with gradual swapping of europium ion emission from one phase to the other phase at higher concentration.

KEYWORDS:

• Bismuth niobate
• Eu³⁺ substitution
• photoluminescence
• Rietveld’s structural analysis