Wet Chemical Preparation of Nanoparticles ZnO:Eu3+ and ZnO:Tb3+ with Enhanced Photoluminescence

Tran Kim Anh,Nguyen Tu,Le Quoc Minh,Pham Thanh Huy,Le Minh Anh Tu,Dinh Xuan Loc

doi:10.1155/2014/684601

Abstract

ZnO doped with Eu3+ and Tb3+ had been successfully prepared by wet chemical method with the assistance of microwave. The influence of reaction conditions such as temperature, time, content of Eu3+, Tb3+ ion, and annealing treatment on the structure and luminescent characteristics was studied. The analysis of energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and photoluminescence spectra measurements indicated that Eu3+ and Tb3+ exist in host lattice and create the new emission region compared to ZnO crystalline host lattice. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) studies show the Eu3+, Tb3+ doped ZnO nanoparticles have a pseudohexagonal shape. The particle size was 30–50 nm for ZnO:Eu3+ and 40–60 nm for ZnO:Tb3+. Photoluminescence excitation (PLE) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra at room temperature have been studied to recognize active centers for characteristic luminescence of ZnO:Eu3+ and ZnO:Tb3+. The characteristic luminescent lines of Eu3+ (5D0-7Fj) and Tb3+ (5D4-7Fj) were determined. It has been demonstrated that the wet chemical synthesis method with microwave assistance can strongly enhance the luminescent intensity of nanoparticles ZnO:Eu3+ in red and ZnO:Tb3+ in green.

Highlights

Rare earth (RE) doped ZnO has been increasingly taking an important role in optoelectronics and photonics [1, 2]
We present new results of fabrication, morphology, and emission properties of ZnO:Eu3+ and ZnO:Tb3+ nanoparticles prepared by wet chemical method with assistance of microwave (MW) heating
The particle morphology of Eu3+ and Tb3+ doped ZnO samples were shown in the field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) images

Summary

Introduction

Rare earth (RE) doped ZnO has been increasingly taking an important role in optoelectronics and photonics [1, 2]. Various physical and chemical routes, such as physical vapor deposition, thermal evaporation, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, and colloidal wetting chemical synthesis, have been used to prepare a wide range of ZnO nanostructures [3–12]. These superior properties of ZnO make it suitable for short-wavelength optoelectronic devices application such as light emitting diodes, laser diodes, and room-temperature UV laser diodes [13]. We present new results of fabrication, morphology, and emission properties of ZnO:Eu3+ and ZnO:Tb3+ nanoparticles prepared by wet chemical method with assistance of microwave (MW) heating

Experimental

Results and Discussion

Conclusion