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    Exploring electronic Raman scattering in La-doped CeO2: Laser energy and power-dependent Raman spectroscopy

    Minal Gupta1,*, Omkar V. Rambadey1,†, Rahul Aggarwal2, and Pankaj R. Sagdeo1,‡

    • *Present address: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, 29208, USA.
    • †Present address: Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Hamburg, 22761, Germany.
    • ‡Contact author: prs@iiti.ac.in

    Phys. Rev. B 111, 235208 – Published 23 June, 2025

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/stgz-lbd3

    Abstract

    We conducted an in-depth experimental investigation into the electronic Raman scattering signature by employing energy- and power-dependent Raman spectroscopy with different laser excitations in the polycrystalline La modified CeO2 (Ce1–xLaxO2) system. At a resonant energy of 2.33 eV, which approximately corresponds to the electronic transition at or from Ce 4f empty defect states or more specifically F5/2 and F7/2 in Ce1–xLaxO2 samples, photoexcited electrons are stimulated from the defect state near the Fermi level. This, in turn, manifests the electronic Raman scattering signature within the Raman spectra. Consequently, under resonance conditions, the line shape (F2g) associated with Ce−O8 lattice vibrations becomes symmetric. However, under off-resonance laser excitation, it becomes asymmetric. We have elucidated this phenomenon by modeling electron-phonon interactions using the Fano model. Furthermore, we observed a nonuniform increase in the low wave number background with increasing laser power in the normalized spectra. This observation may be attributed to an increase in electronic scattering by delocalized electrons near the Fermi level, which could subsequently couple with nearby phonons. We have analyzed this effect by fitting the background of Raman spectra using a mathematical model. The major cause for the electronic Raman scattering in a CeO2-based system is the presence of unpaired f electrons in the 4f empty defect level of CeO2-based systems. This study provides valuable insights into electronic Raman spectroscopy of oxide-based semiconductors with defects, particularly when utilizing a range of laser excitations.

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