PHOTOLUMINESCENCE, MAGNETIC PROPERTIES AND PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF Gd3+ DOPED ZnO NANOPARTICLES

Nanocrystalline ZnO particles doped with Gd(III) ions were prepared by a simple sol-gel method from methanolic solution of zinc acetate dihydrate, aqueous solution of Gd(NO3)(3)center dot 9H(2)O, and starch. By calcination of the xerogel at 400 degrees C we obtained nanopowders of ZnO doped with Gd(III) ions. The dopant percentage was increased up to 5%. Optical investigation shows that the Gd doping in ZnO lattice leads to a decrease in the near band edge position due to the introduction of new unoccupied states by Gd 4f electrons. The blue-green luminescence is enhanced by increasing the Gd(III) percentage. In addition, the photocatalytic activity was investigated against methylene blue.