Magnetic, Optical, and Electrochemical Behavior of a Facile Solid State Fabricated Mx–Bi2O3 (M = None, Ni2+, Ce3+, Eu3+, and Yb3+) Nanomaterials.

Mx-Bi2O3 (M = None, Ni2+, Ce3+, Eu3+ and Yb3+) nanomaterials were fabricated by a facile and low temperature solid state method using a basic bismuth nitrate, nickel nitrate, cerium nitrate, europium trioxide and ytterbium trioxide raw compounds at 400 ˚C and 24 h. Rietveld analysis data showed that α-Bi2O3 was crystallized well in monoclinic crystal system with the space group of P121/c1. The data revealed that some of the crystallographic parameters of the synthesized materials were changed by doping the metal ions into Bi2O3 crystal system. The morphology of the synthesized materials was studied by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images. Direct band gap energy (Eg) values were calculated by ultraviolet – visible (UV-Vis) spectra. The data showed that the Eg of the synthesized materials were in the range of about 2.4 to 2.75 eV. Vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis data confirmed that the synthesized samples had ferromagnetic behavior. The highest Ms value was obtained for Yb3+-doped Bi2O3 (0.025 emu/g). Electrochemical property of the synthesized Bi2O3 nanomaterial was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis. The data confirmed that Bi2O3 can be used in energy storage applications. Impedance spectroscopy (EIS) plot of Bi2O3 revealed that the Z value was about 15–20 Ω/cm2. The slope of the curve was near to 90° representing the good capacitor behavior of Bi2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]