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Dopant-controlled photoluminescence of Ag-doped Zn–In–S nanocrystals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2017

Xinjun Shi ,
Jinju Zheng ,
Minhui Shang ,
Tingting Xie ,
Jiangbo Xie ,
Sheng Cao  and
Weiyou Yang
Xinjun Shi
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China
Jinju Zheng*
Affiliation:
School of Mechanical Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China; and Institute of Materials, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China
Minhui Shang*
Affiliation:
Institute of Materials, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China
Tingting Xie
Affiliation:
Institute of Materials, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China
Jiangbo Xie
Affiliation:
Institute of Materials, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China
Sheng Cao
Affiliation:
Institute of Materials, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China
Weiyou Yang
Affiliation:
Institute of Materials, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China
*
a) Address all correspondence to these authors. e-mail: zhengzhao2007@163.com
b) e-mail: smh2875@hotmail.com
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Abstract

In this work, we reported the growth of cadmium-free Ag-doped Zn–In–S nanocrystals (NCs) with effective photoluminescence (PL) via a hot-injection strategy. The effects of the nucleation temperatures, reaction times, and Ag-doping concentrations on the PL properties of Ag-doped Zn–In–S NCs were investigated systematically. The as-synthesized NCs exhibit color-tunable PL emissions covering a broad visible range of 472–585 nm. After being passivated by a protective ZnS shell, the PL quantum yield (QY) of the resultant NCs was greatly improved up to 33%. With the increase of the Ag-doping level, the PL is significantly intensified due to the improved concentration of Ag ions which provides more holes to recombine with electrons from the bottom of the conduction band. This also makes the emission via the dopant energy level become a powerful, competitive advantage for the NCs with higher Ag-doping levels, resulting in a longer lifetime and higher PL QY. These results suggest that tailoring the Ag-doping level can be a powerful strategy to control the optical properties of Ag-doped Zn–In–S NCs.

Keywords

optical propertiesdopantnanostructure
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 32 , Issue 18 , 28 September 2017 , pp. 3585 - 3592
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Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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Footnotes

Contributing Editor: Winston V. Schoenfeld

References

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