Magnetic and optical properties of electrospun hollow nanofibers of SnO<inf>2</inf> doped with Ce-ion

Cerium doped SnO2 hollow nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning. High resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed hollow nanofibers with diameters around ∼200 nm. The optimized substitution of Ce ion into SnO 2 lattices happened above 6 mol. % doping as confirmed by Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. Optical band gap was decreased by the doping confirming the direct energy transfer between f-electrons of rare earth ion and the SnO2 conduction or valence band. The compound also exhibited room temperature ferromagnetism with the saturation magnetization of 19 × 10-5 emu/g at 6 mol. %. This study demonstrates the Ce doped SnO 2 hollow nanofibers for applications in magneto-optoelectronic devices. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.