Investigation of structural, optical, and photoluminescence properties of Ce³⁺ activated zinc vanadate nanoparticles

This article presents a research study focused on the synthesis of zinc vanadate nanoparticles using the solution combustion method. The investigation delves into the nanoparticles’ structural, optical, and photoluminescence properties, particularly after introducing cerium (Ce) doping. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, it is confirmed that the synthesized samples possess an orthorhombic crystalline phase corresponding to Zn₃(VO₄)₂. Rietveld refinement enhances confidence in the congruence between observed XRD patterns and calculated data. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) exposes a range of morphologies among the samples. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy unveils that the band gap energy of undoped zinc vanadate measures 3 eV; this energy gap increases upon integrating cerium ions into the host lattice. Notably, the emission intensity peaks when excited by a 340 nm wavelength across all samples. Broadband features characterize the emission spectra, with the most pronounced intensity observed in the Zn_2.99(VO₄)₂:0.01Ce³⁺ sample. This research establishes Zn_2.99(VO₄)₂:0.01Ce³⁺ nanoparticles as a promising material for luminescent applications in solid-state lighting.