Multifunctionality of rare earth doped nano ZnSb2O6, CdSb2O6 and BaSb2O6: photocatalytic properties and white light emission

Abstract

Undoped MSb₂O₆ (where M = Zn, Cd, Ba) and single and double doped MSb₂O₆:RE (where RE = Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺) nanophosphors were synthesized through a simple sonochemical process and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), diffuse reflectance (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectrophotometry. The TEM micrographs show that the resulting nanoparticles have mostly a spherical shape. Energy transfer was observed from the host to the dopant ions and characteristic green emissions from Tb³⁺ ions and red emissions from Eu³⁺ ions were observed. The chromaticity diagrams of the ZnSb₂O₆:Tb³⁺(1.2%):Eu³⁺(0.8%), CdSb₂O₆:Eu³⁺(0.5%):Tb³⁺(1.5%) and BaSb₂O₆:Eu³⁺(1%):Tb³⁺(1%) nanophosphors yielded CIE and CCT (correlated color temperature) values in the white light region. The photocatalytic activities of the undoped and double doped antimonates were evaluated for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under UV light. Undoped MSb₂O₆ (where M = Zn, Cd, Ba) as well as ZnSb₂O₆:Tb³⁺(1.2%):Eu³⁺(0.8%), CdSb₂O₆:Eu³⁺(0.5%):Tb³⁺(1.5%) and BaSb₂O₆:Eu³⁺(1%):Tb³⁺(1%) samples exhibited good photodegradation capacity for RhB. Thus double doped ZnSb₂O₆:Tb³⁺(1.2%):Eu³⁺(0.8%), CdSb₂O₆:Eu³⁺(0.5%):Tb³⁺(1.5%) and BaSb₂O₆:Eu³⁺(1%):Tb³⁺(1%) can be termed a bifunctional material exhibiting both photocatalytic properties and white light emission.