Influence of Sm doping on the microstructural properties of CdS nanocrystals

Incorporation of rare earth ions of samarium into CdS nanocrystals has been successfully prepared by a simple co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of Sm3 +:CdS nanocrystals exhibits the diffraction peaks corresponding to the cubic structure. A powder composition by energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDX) and by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the binding energy of Sm 3d5/2 (1084.37 eV), reveals the presence of samarium into the CdS. Micro Raman spectroscopy showed peaks at 294 and 590 cm− 1 matches with the first and second order scatterings of the longitudinal optical phonon modes. The 1LO and 2LO mode, respectively from 299 cm− 1 and 599 cm− 1 shifted towards a lower frequency due to the optical phonon confinement and the structural disorder induced by the RE ions incorporation. A larger specific surface area of ~ 140 m2 g− 1 was measured for Sm doped CdS nanocrystals using N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm.