NANOSYSTEMS: PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, MATHEMATICS, 2013, 4 (2), P. 241–246
SYNTHESIS OF HEXAGONAL LAF3: ND3+, SM3+ NANO CRYSTALS AND STUDIES OF NLO PROPERTIES
S. G. Gaurkhede – Department of Physics, Bhavans College of ASC, Andheri (W) Mumbai400058. India; s.gaurkhede@gmail.com
M. M. Khandpekar – Material Research Lab, Department of Physics, Birla College, Kalyan – 421304.India
S. P. Pati – National Institute of Science and Technology, Palur Hills, Behrampur 761008, Odisha. India
A. T. Singh – Department of Physics, K. M. Agarwal College of ASC, Kalyan421301. India
Hexagonal shaped LaF3 nanocrystals (NC) doped by Nd3+ and Sm3+ ions were synthesized using a domestic microwave oven. The powder XRD study confirmed that the crystalline size of the particle was approximately 20 nm (JCPDS standard card (32–0483) of pure hexagonal LaF3 crystals).The Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) analysis indicated the size of the primary and secondary particles were between 15–20 nm. The presence of fundamental groups was verified by FTIR spectra. The synthesized nanocrystals were also studied for NonLinear Optical (NLO) properties. The Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) efficiencies of LaF3: Nd3+, Sm3+ containing rare earth elements were found to be less than that of pure Potassium Dihydroxyl Phosphate (KDP) crystals.
Keywords: microwave radiation, hexagonal shape, luminescent properties, x-ray diffraction.