A simple chemical precipitation technique was used to synthesize europium-doped

cerium oxide nanostructures so as to enhance the emission properties. Structural

and optical studies revealed an sharp dependence upon the concentration of oxygen

ion vacancies and trivalent cerium which, in turn, could be modified by the dopant

concentration and the annealing temperature. The results of X-ray photo-electron

spectroscopy revealed an increase, in the tetravalent cerium concentration, to 85%

upon annealing at 900C. The concentration of oxygen ion vacancies increased from

1.7 x 1020 to 4.1 x 1020/cm3 with an increase in dopant concentration. The

maximum emission at room temperature was obtained for 15mol%Eu-doped ceria,

and improved with annealing temperature.

Luminescence Properties of Europium-Doped Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles: Role

of Vacancy and Oxidation States. A.Kumar, S.Babu, A.S.Karakoti, A.Schulte,

S.Seal: Langmuir, 2009, 25[18], 10998-1007