Structural and optoelectronic properties of Eu2+-doped nanoscale barium titanates of pseudo-cubic form

The effect of europium (Eu)-doping on the optoelectronic carrier transition properties of pseudo-cubic barium titanate (BT) nanostructured system is being reported. Referring to x-ray diffractograms, apart from the diffraction peaks related to perovskite BT structure, non-existence of any additional peaks due to byproducts has revealed that Eu has undergone substitutional doping into BT host lattice. We speculate that adequate growth of a cubic overlayer over the tetragonal core has led to suppressed tetragonality (c/a ratio) features. We notice substantial decrease in the carrier transition exponent (n value), from its normal value, when doping level was varied within 0%-14%. While the overall photoluminescence response is improved with Eu-doping, the BT system was expected to experience concentration quenching. The emission peak at similar to 455 nm was attributed to Eu2+ mediated 4f(6)5d(1) -> 4f(7) carrier transitions. Investigating optoelectronic properties of non-ferroelectric perovskite nanostructured system has a direct relevance in nanoscale optics and optoelectronic components. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4770492]