Nanoscale insights into doping behavior, particle size and surface effects in trivalent metal doped SnO₂.

ABSTRACT: Despite considerable research, the location of an aliovalent dopant into SnO₂ nanoparticles is far to be clarified. The aim of the present study on trivalent lanthanide doped SnO₂ is to differentiate between substitutional versus interstitial and surface versus bulk doping, delineate the bulk and surface defects induced by doping and establish an intrinsic dopant distribution. We evidence for the first time a complex distribution of intrinsic nature composed of substitutional isolated, substitutional associates with defects as well as surface centers. Such multi-modal distribution is revealed for Eu and Sm, while Pr, Tb and Dy appear to be distributed mostly on the SnO₂ surface. Like the previously reported case of Eu, Sm displays a long-lived luminescence

SUBMITTER: Cojocaru B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5575111 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature