Site spectroscopy of Eu3+ doped- ZnS nanocrystals embedded in sodium carboxymethyl cellulose matrix

Abstract The work investigates the incorporation of Eu3+ ion in ZnS crystal through spectroscopic studies. ZnS: Eu3+ nanocrystals was synthesized via the precipitation technique. Elemental composition analysis indicates a non-stoichiometric distribution between Zn and S. X-ray diffraction studies show lattice expansion demonstrating that Eu3+ ions were incorporated in the host lattice. Annealing temperature gave rise to lattice contraction relative to the as-synthesized indicating a partial expulsion of the ion from the crystal due to heat treatment. Eu3+ ions site symmetry probing from optical features show that trivalent europium were situated both at the nanocrystals surface and at the Zn2+ ion site. Weak energy transfer from host to activator ion occurred probably mainly through exchange interaction and the transfer process was defect mediated.