Structural and optical characterization of Y_2Ti_2O_7 and Y_2Ti_(1.5)Hf_(0.5)O_7 nanomaterials

摘要

Single step auto ignited combustion technique has been used to prepare nanosized Y_2Ti_2O_7 (YTO) and Y_2Ti_(1.5)Hf_(0.5)O_7 (YTHO). The structure of the samples analyzed by X-ray diffraction method is found to be cubic with space group (Z = 8). This is further confirmed using vibra-tional spectroscopic analysis. The average crystalline sizes of both the samples are calculated using Scherrer formula and using High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy. Energy dispersive spectroscopic analysis confirmed the presence of elements in the stoichiometric ratio. Optical studies of the as prepared samples are carried out by UV-Vis and Photoluminescence spectroscopy. The optical band gap determined using Kubelka-Munk formalism and Tauc's plot are found to be 3.8 and 3.1 eV for YTO and YTHO, respectively. Photocatalytic activity is analyzed by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV light. The percentage degradation of YTO and YTHO are 40 and 19.5% respectively. The rate of degradation is also analyzed for both the samples.