Green hydrothermal synthesis and optical properties of γ-Gd2S3 nanoparticles

Abstract

Green synthesis of γ-Gd2S3 nanoparticles was carried out using low-temperature hydrothermal route in autoclave. A 1:1 mixture of ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate, ([EMIM][EtSO4]), and water was used as a solvent. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), particle size by dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique, and photoluminescence (PL) studies. XRPD suggests cubic Th3P4-type structure for obtained Gd2S3 nanoparticles. The size of synthesized nanoparticles is about 86 nm. Optical band gap for these nanoparticles estimated from electronic spectrum is 2.95 eV which shows blue shift from values reported for bulk Gd2S3 due to pronounced quantum mechanical effect. These nanoparticles show sharp emission peak at 385 nm and a broad shoulder at 475 nm when excited at 260 nm.