| Summary: | Much research has been attracted to search for great host materials that can optimize the luminescent efficiency of Er3+ ions in applications such as photonic devices. Due to its interesting physical, chemical and optical properties, special attention has been focused on SnO2 which has wide band gap and high visible range transparency that make SnO2 an attractive host for Er3+ ions. However, it is very important that the Er3+ ions incorporated be well dispersed in the SnO2 matrix in order to get high efficiency in luminescence properties. The degree of dispersion of Er3+ ions in a matrix is closely related to the crystallite size of the matrix as well as the ratio of Er3+ to SnO2 which must be identified to obtain the crystallite size in a suitable practical range. In this study nano-size Er3+-doped SnO 2 has been synthesized by the sol-gel method. Increasing amounts Er3+ ions were added to ethanolic solutions of SnCl 4.5H2O and let dry at 80°C. Phase changes of samples heated at various temperatures were monitored using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and the nanocrystallinity was determined by Scherrer's equation. The surface morphology was investigated by using SEM. XRD pattern of undoped SnO2 showed crystallization of tetragonal rutile SnO2 increased as the temperature of heat treatment was increased and the crystallization appeared to be complete after 2 hours heat treatment at 600°C. XRD of samples doped with Er3+ ions did not, however, depict obvious difference. SEM images showed the presence of aggregates of very small individual particles (∼0.2nm). The grain size of the SnO2 varied according to the heat treatment temperature and the concentration of Er3+ ions incorporated. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.
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