Dual function of rare earth doped nano Bi2O3: white light emission and photocatalytic properties.

Undoped Bi(2)O(3) and single and double doped Bi(2)O(3) : M (where M = Tb(3+) and Eu(3+)) nanophosphors were synthesized through a simple sonochemical process and characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), EDS, diffuse reflectance (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectrophotometry. The TEM micrographs show that resultant nanoparticles have a rod-like shape. Energy transfer was observed from host to the dopant ions. Characteristic green emissions from Tb(3+) ions and red emissions from Eu(3+) ions were observed. Interestingly, the Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of the double doped Bi(2)O(3) : Eu(3+)(0.8%) : Tb(3+)(1.2%) nanorods lie in the white light region of the chromaticity diagram and it has a quantum efficiency of 51%. The undoped Bi(2)O(3) showed a band gap of 3.98 eV which is red shifted to 3.81eV in the case of double doped Bi(2)O(3) : Eu(3+)(0.8%) : Tb(3+)(1.2%) nanorods. The photocatalytic activities of undoped nano Bi(2)O(3) and double doped nano Bi(2)O(3) : Eu(3+)(0.8%) : Tb(3+)(1.2%) were evaluated for the degradation of Rhodamine B under UV irradiation of 310 nm. The results showed that Bi(2)O(3) : Eu(3+)(0.8%) : Tb(3+)(1.2%) had better photocatalytic activity compared to undoped nano Bi(2)O(3). The evolution of CO(2) was realized and these results indicated the continuous mineralization of rhodamine B during the photocatalytic process. Thus double doped Bi(2)O(3) : Eu(3+)(0.8%) : Tb(3+)(1.2%) nanorods can be termed as a bifunctional material exhibiting both photocatalytic properties and white light emission.