Synthesis, Characterization and Effect of ?-Ray on Rare-Earth Tb3+ Doped Nano LiMn2-xTbxO4 Lithium Manganates

Abstract

Pure nano lithium manganese oxide spinel (LiMn₂O₄) and doped Tb³⁺ lithium manganese oxide spinel, [LiMn₂-xTbxO₄, (x = 0.01%, 0.02%)], are synthesized via solid-state method. The synthesized LiMn_1.99Tb_0.01O₄ was irradiated by ?-irradiation with 30 kGy. The resulting spinel product is characterized by various methods such as thermo gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive of x-rays analysis (EDAX), electron spin resonances (ESR) studies and DC–electrical conductivity measurements. The XRD and SEM confirm the nano materials size for all prepared samples. DC–electrical conductivity measurements indicates that these samples are semiconductor and the activation energy decreases with increasing rare-earth Tb³⁺ content; ?E^a= 0.427 eV for LiMn_1.99Tb_0.01O₄, ?E^a= 0.339 eV for LiMn_1.98Tb_0.02O₄ and decreases to ?E^a= 0.330 eV for ?-irradiation of LiMn_1.99Tb_0.01O₄ nano spinel thus in role increases its attractiveness in modern  electronic technology. Abou-Sekkina activation energy for the induced ?-irradiation is evaluated for the first time, which was found to be 0.097 eV.

Keywords: Nano lithium manganates, Tb³⁺ doping spinel, ? –Ray effect