Crystallographic studies and optical analysis on nanocrystalline CrxFe2−xO3 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 2.0) synthesized through hesperidin mediation

•Hesperidin (C12H22O16) is used as phytochemical reductant and complex sterric stabilizer.•Rhombohedral rhomb-centered lattice of Fe2O3 and Cr2O3 phases are formed in the space group R¯3c (167).•Doping with chromium resulted greater dislocation density.•Band gaps undergo red shift up to 55% chromium doping and then found undergoing blue shift.•Photo excitation led to optical emissions at wavelengths 303 nm, 546 nm and 783 nm, respectively. CrxFe2−xO3 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 2.0) nanoparticles were synthesized through phytochemical mediated reduction method using hesperidin and the samples were annealed at 600 °C for 4 hrs for ageing. The data obtained after characteristic measurements such as X-ray diffraction, Uv–visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence were systematically studied. The crystallographic plane reflections corresponding to the formation of rhombohedral rhomb-centered lattice of Fe2O3 phase and Cr2O3 phase under the space group R¯3c (167) were confirmed for x = 0.0 and x = 2.0 samples. Both Fe2O3 and Cr2O3 phases were coexisted in intermediate compositions between x = 0.0 and 2.0 with considerable intensity variations and shift in peak positions. Crystallite size, strain and dislocation density were estimated from the crystallographic data obtained from X- ray diffraction pattern. The doping with chromium resulted greater defects or dislocation density in the intermediate compositions (0.0