Strong Ultra-Violet Absorption in Cu Doped CeO2 Nanospheres

Abstract

This article focuses the synthesis and characterization of copper doped cerium oxide nanospheres synthesized by chemical precipitation method. Synthesized nanopowders were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectrometer and photoluminescence spectrometer. X-ray diffraction study confirmed the copper doping without disturbing the face centred cubic structure of cerium oxide. Field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope study also confirmed the existence of sphere like nanoparticles. The optical absorption spectrum shows that the synthesized samples exhibit strong absorption in ultraviolet region and also it confirmed the decrease in energy gap of cerium oxide on copper doping. The photoluminescence study revealed that the blue emission is attributed to the fast oxygen transportation of copper doped cerium oxide nanoparticles.