Structural, optical and dielectric properties of alkaline earth metal (Sr0.05, Mg0.05 and Ba0.05) doped CaF 2 nanoparticles and their microscopic analysis

Pure and doped (with Sr, Mg, Ba) CaF2 NPs have been synthesized by Co-precipitation method from chloride of all metals and ammonium fluoride. The synthesized nanoparticles were further characterized by XRD, FTIR, UV-VIS, AFM, SEM and EDX techniques. The results of SEM clearly show that the sizes of the particles are in nanometer range and are ultrafine. XRD spectra shows that the nanoparticles are present in the single phase and no impurity were observed as there is no extra peak found. FT-IR spectra reveal the presence of fluoride bond. EDX spectra clearly show the presence of dopant. UV-VIS was used to check the optical properties and band gap (Eg) of all samples. LCR meter was used to study the dielectric properties. The dielectric properties show that there is an increase in dielectric constant by the doping of alkaline earth metal. It was observed that doping causes increase in the ac conductivity of the nanoparticles as compared with the pure nanoparticles and Sr doped nanoparticles shows highest ac conductivity and lowest impedance as compared to the other prepared samples. It was also observed that doping of Mg affects the optical properties effectively and absorption maxima were increased due to Mg doping. Copyright © 2013 American Scientific Publishers.