Optical, magnetic, and electrochemical properties of EuVO4 nanorods synthesized via solvothermal route

Europium vanadate (EuVO4) nanorods were synthesized via the facile solvothermal route by using europium oxide as europium (Eu) source and ammonium metavanadate as vanadium (V) source. The synthesized EuVO4 nanorods were characterized by X-ray diffraction spectrum (XRD), Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR), micro-Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray analyses (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), ultraviolet (UV)–visible absorption spectrum, and photoluminescence (PL) to find the structural, optical, morphological, and magnetic and luminescence behaviors. Also, electrochemical analysis was performed to analyze the capacitive nature of the prepared EuVO4 electrodes by using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. XRD spectrum declares that the synthesized EuVO4 nanorods were highly crystalline in nature with tetragonal structure. FTIR and micro-Raman spectrum reveals the bonding nature of the prepared EuVO4 nanorods. SEM and HRTEM expose the rod-shaped morphology of the prepared EuVO4 nanorods. EDX spectrum justifies the purity of the prepared sample by showing the only presence of Eu, V, and O elements. UV–Vis spectrum shows the broad band from 260 to 280 nm which is due to VO43− absorption. PL spectrum of EuVO4 nanorods illustrate the electronic transitions that occur at 4f6, 5d1 → 4f7, which make an excellent photoluminescence emission in the region of blue (484 nm). From the CV and GCD studies, the maximum specific capacitance values of the EuVO4 nanorods were estimated as 106.9 F g−1 (5 mV s−1) and 146 F g−1 (1 A g−1) and the Columbic efficiency for 5 A g−1 and 6 A g−1 as 94.7% and 94.5%, respectively, which gives hope for the prepared EuVO4 nanorods that can act as perfect electrodes in supercapacitors.