Controlled synthesis and luminescence of Eu doped ZnO nanowires and nanorods via hydrothermal method

Abstract

Undoped and Eu3+ doped ZnO nanostructures were prepared by single-step mild hydrothermal conditions. The nanostructures were deposited on a Si or glass substrate without template. The reaction was carried out for 10-20h which resulted in morphology and aspect ration of the final products depend on the concentration of the precursors and reaction time. The concentration of dopant Eu3+ in the synthesized nanostructures was below 4 at.%. The crystal structure and the microstructure of the doped nanostructures were studied and compared with undoped ZnO. Photoluminescence measurements of the nanowires exhibit a strong band gap emission at room temperature. In partcular, relative intensity of band gap and defect emission changes drastically in ZnO:Eu and ZnO nanostructures with different morphology. The highly crystalline ZnO nanorods, nanowires can be a good one-dimensional candidate to study optical and electronic properties © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.