LAUSR

AbstractThis work reports the body-centered cubic (BCC) γ-phase stabilization of Bi2O3 nanostructures by means of varying Ce doping concentration and its effect on the optical, ionic transport and dielectric properties. The Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the formation of nanocrystalline Ce-doped Bi2O3 composite nanostructure having BCC as main phase in addition with small amount of monoclinic phase at room temperature for 30% doping concentration in the pure Bi2O3 matrix. The results of TEM, EDAX and XRF analysis are consistent with the Rietveld analysis. Lattice fringe and SAED pattern obtained from HRTEM analysis confirm the body-centered cubic γ-phase as dominant phase. The UV-Vis spectroscopy study shows decrease in optical band gap with doping concentration. The presence of different molecular bonds corresponding to γ-phase has been confirmed using FT-IR spectroscopy. The ionic conductivity of the samples has been found to increase with measuring temperature as well as doping concentration. The dielectric and complex modulus properties have been analyzed using Havriliak-Negami formalism and found to be non-Debye type. The conductivity data has been found to obey Variable Range Hopping phenomenon which is corroborated with the structural property of the prepared compositions. Graphical abstractᅟ