Influence of Sr doping on structural, optical and magnetic properties of TiO2 nanoparticles

Strontium (Sr) doped anatase TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by the method of hydrolysis and characterized for their structural, optical and magnetic properties. The crystalline nature and tetragonal anatase phase of undoped and Sr doped TiO2 nanoparticles were examined by XRD. The blue shifted band gap of the nanoparticles was studied by UV-vis analysis. Room-temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Sr doped TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited a strong UV emission at 364 nm and 381 nm, and a weak emission at 406 nm and 431 nm. The PL spectra also showed an increase in concentration of the defects, due to doping. The room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) was observed from VSM measurement, for undoped and Sr doped TiO2 nanoparticles and the influence of Sr is discussed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.