Spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic analysis of Fe-substituted BaSO₄ nanoparticles by chemical precipitation method

Nanomaterials are of tremendous interest because of their numerous uses. The preparation technique and impurity added to nanomaterials have a significant impact on their structure and effectiveness. Hence, we have examined the optical properties of BaSO₄ nanoparticles doped with Fe-ions. The effect of Fe-ions concentration on the spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic techniques of BaSO₄, were investigated thermogravimetric differential thermal analyzer (TG–DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) with energy dispersive (EDS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and UV–Visible analysis. The crystallite size of as prepared BaSO₄ nanoparticles was found to decreased from 63 to 53 nm with the increase in Fe concentration levels. SEM and TEM micrographs showed that all the samples exhibited a spherical and non-spherical like structures. The optical cut off wavelength and band-gap values for pure and Fe-substituted BaSO₄ nanoparticles were found to be 4.05–3.97 eV and 4.10–3.81 eV, respectively, according to the UV-DRS spectra. These results suggest that the optical characteristics of these materials are obviously impacted by the increasing Fe concentration.