Controlled synthesis of photoluminescent Bi sub(4)Ti sub(3)O sub(12) nanoparticles from metal-organic polymeric precursor

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 563 - 571
• Main Authors: Hou, Jungang, Kumar, R V, Qu, Yuanfang, Krsmanovic, Dalibor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2010
• Subjects: Annealing; Emission analysis; Emission spectroscopy; Grain size; Lattice parameters; Nanoparticles; Photoluminescence; Polymeric precursors
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-009-9624-z

Bi sub(4)Ti sub(3)O sub(12) (BIT) nanoparticles with a narrow average particle size distribution in the range of 11-46 nm was synthesized via a metal-organic polymeric precursor process. The crystallite size and lattice parameter of BIT were determined by XRD analysis. At annealing temperatures >550 degree C, the orthorhombic BIT compound with lattice parameters a = 5.4489 Aa, b = 5.4147 Aa, and c = 32.8362 Aa was formed while at lower annealing temperatures orthorhombicity was absent. Reaction proceeded via the formation of an intermediate phase at 500 degree C with a stoichiometry close to Bi sub(2)Ti sub(2)O sub(7). The particle size and the agglomerates of the primary particles have been confirmed by FESEM and TEM. The decomposition of the polymeric gel was ascertained in order to evaluate the crystallization process from TG-DSC analysis. Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the lattice dynamics in BIT nanoparticles. In addition, investigation of the dependence of the visible emission band around the blue-green color emission on annealing temperatures and grain sizes showed that the effect of grain size plays important roles, and that oxygen vacancies may act as the radiative centers responsible for the observed visible emission band.