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Structural, Optical and Luminescent Properties of ZnO:Eu3+ Nanocrystals Prepared by Modified Sol-Gel Method

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Segundo R. Jauregui-Rosas
Affiliation:
segundorj@yahoo.es, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Dpto. Académico de Física, Trujillo, Peru
Oscar Perales-Perez
Affiliation:
operalesperez@yahoo.com, University of Puerto Rico, Department of Engineering Science and Materials, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
M. S. Tomar
Affiliation:
mtomar@uprm.edu, University of Puerto Rico, Department of Physics, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Wei-Ji Jia
Affiliation:
wjia@uprm.edu, University of Puerto Rico, Department of Physics, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
O. Vasquez
Affiliation:
omar_vm2000@yahoo.com, University of Puerto Rico, Department of Physics, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Luis Angelats-Silva
Affiliation:
langelats@yahoo.com, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Dpto. Académico de Física, Trujillo, Peru
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Abstract

Highly monodisperse ZnO:Eu3+ nanocrystals have been synthesized by modified sol-gel method from ethanolic solutions. The effect of Eu3+ ions (x=0.05-0.30) concentration on the structural, optical and luminescent properties has been evaluated. No other than the ZnO-wurtzite phase was observed at all dopant levels, which was confirmed by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy techniques. A blue shift of the exciton peak and the increase on the corresponding band gap were observed at increasing Europium contents, which would indicate an interaction between Eu3+ ions and the development of the ZnO host structure. The luminescence properties were also dependent on Europium contents; a systematic blue shift and enhancement of the intensity of visible luminescence peak, attributed to an increment of surface defects, was observed by a rising Europium concentration. The red luminescence band, representing the 5D07F0 transition, was clearly observed in nanocrystals after annealing at 300OC for one hour. The presence of this band could be considered as an evidence of the effective energy transfer from ZnO to Eu3+ ions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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