Photoluminescence and photocatalytic properties of Er 3+ -doped In 2 O 3 thin films prepared by sol–gel: application to Rhodamine B degradation under solar light

摘要: The effect of Er3+ doping (1%) on the structural, optical and photocatalytic properties In2O3 thin films deposited quartz substrates by spin coating was investigated. In2O3:1% films, annealed in temperature range 800–1000 °C, were characterized X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, ellipsometry photoluminescence (PL). are polycrystalline with a cubic structure lattice parameter increases incorporation owing to its larger radius. SEM images film show granular morphology large grains (~ 200 nm). doped exhibits less transparency than UV–visible region band gaps 3.42 3.60 eV, respectively. PL shows strong lines at 548 567 nm, assigned under direct excitation 532 nm. energy diagram junction Er3+/Na2SO4 (0.1 M) solution plotted from physical photoelectrochemical characterizations feasibility for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation solar light. conduction 2.22 V deriving In3+:5s orbital is suitably positioned respect O2/O 2 · level (~ 1.40 VSCE), leading oxidation 32% 10 ppm RhB within 40 min irradiation.