Physical properties of neodymium tin oxide pyrochlore ceramics

In this work, physical properties of neodymium tin oxide pyrochlore ceramics prepared by solid state reaction technique are investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible light (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry and temperature dependent electrical resistivity measurements. The pyrochlore is observed to have a cubic FCC crystal lattice with lattice parameter of 10.578 Å. The planes of the cubic cell are best oriented in the [2 2 2] direction. From the X-ray, the UV-Vis spectrophotometry and the electrical resistivity data analysis, the grain size, strain, dislocation density, optical and thermal energy band gaps, localized energy band tail states and resistivity activation energies are determined and discussed. The pyrochlore is observed to have an optical energy band gap of ~3.40 eV. This value corresponds to 365 nm UV light spectra which nominates the neodymium tin oxide pyrochlore ceramics for the use as UV sensors.