Multiple roles of rare earth Sm3+ in BaTiO3 nanoparticles: Photoluminescence, optical bandgap tunability, and electrocatalytic activity

A series of rare earth Sm 3 + -doped BaTiO 3 (BTO: x Sm 3 + ) samples were prepared in this work through high-temperature solid-state reaction. Their microstructure, photoluminescence, optical, and electrocatalytic OER properties were studied. As the concentration of Sm 3 + ions increased, there was a concentration dependent increase in luminescence intensity and optical bandgap. Rare earth doping significantly reduced the OER overpotential (from 509 mV to 316 mV), and under near-ultraviolet excitation at 408 nm, an orange-red emission ( λ e m = 595 nm) was observed. The results indicate that the prepared materials are suitable for the design and application of optoelectronic devices.