Hydrothermally synthesized BaCoTiO3 quantum dots: Optical, and electrical properties
摘要
The Ba1−xCoxTiO3 (x = 0.2–0.8) (BCT) perovskite nanoparticles are prepared via hydrothermal method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the cubic perovskite structure while specifically, the x = 0.4 sample shows the mixed structure. The microstructure, and selected area electron diffraction patterns clearly show the formation of quantum dots (QDs) for x = 0.4 having the average size of 4 nm which can be suggested for quantum technology applications. The Tauc’s plots obtained from UV-Visible spectral analysis confirmed the decrease of optical bandgap (Eg) from 2.514 to 2.300 eV with increase in Co-content in the barium titanate system. The metal oxide bonds (Ba-O, Co-O, and Ti-O) are confirmed using IR-spectra. The Raman spectra of BCT evidences the formation of perovskite structure disclosing the lattice vibrations, and Raman modes of BCT. Further, the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of x = 0.2–0.8 show the perovskite formation pertaining to the emission of different colours (wavelengths). The dielectric constant, and loss dependence of x = 0.2–0.8 as a function of crystallite is elucidated. The U-shaped ac-electrical conductivity behavior as a function of frequency for x = 0.2–0.8 indicates the transition from hopping dominant conduction to polarization dominant mechanism. The relaxation dynamics is illustrated using the dielectric modulus formalism. The Cole-Cole plots reveal that the electrical conduction mechanism of BCT happened alone through grains rather than the grain boundaries.