A comprehensive examination of structural modifications, optical characteristics, and electrochemical analysis of magnesium-doped dysprosium chromite

Abstract

Background

This study focuses on the synthesis of magnesium-doped dysprosium chromite via a sol-gel method. The investigation aims to understand the morphological and structural properties of the synthesized nanochromates. Key techniques employed include x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy.

Aims

The primary aim is to analyze the structural characteristics of Mg_xDy_1−xCr₂O₄ nanoparticles with varying Mg doping concentrations (ranging from 0.2 to 0.8). Special attention is given to the crystallinity of the synthesized materials, with the goal of assessing the reliability and reproducibility of the sol-gel synthesis method.

Methods

XRD analysis is employed to identify major diffraction peaks associated with the chromate nanoparticles, providing insights into their crystallinity. SEM imaging allows for the examination of the morphological features of the synthesized materials. Additionally, Raman spectroscopy aids in further understanding the structural properties of the nanochromates.

Results

The XRD analysis reveals average crystallite sizes for Mg_xDy_1−xCr₂O₄ nanoparticles at different Mg doping concentrations. Notably, an improvement in crystalline quality is observed with an increase in Mg doping from 0.2 to 0.8, indicating a high level of control achieved in the synthesis process. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) experiments conducted using a 1M KOH electrolyte and varying scan rates (3 mV/s to 50 mV/s) demonstrate enhanced electrochemical performance of the synthesized nanoparticles.

Conclusion

The study concludes that the sol-gel synthesis method effectively produces Mg_xDy_1−xCr₂O₄ nanoparticles with controlled morphological and structural properties. The observed improvement in crystalline quality with increasing Mg doping concentration suggests potential applications in fields such as photo-catalysis, where enhanced crystallinity correlates with improved photo-catalytic potential for visible light absorption.