Effects of Codoping Al³⁺ on Luminescence of ZnO: Eu and ZnO:Tb Thin-Films

Abstract

Rare-earth (RE = Eu, Tb) doped ZnO and Al-codopedZnO:RE films on silicon wafers were prepared by sol-gel techniques and subsequently annealed in argon ambient. The films were characterized by photoluminescence spectroscope, Raman spectroscope and scanning electron microscope. When doped with RE only, the most intense lines of RE emissions were observed in ZnO nanofilms doped with RE at a concentration of 1%. Alcodoping into the ZnO:RE nanofilms could obviously improve the efficiencies of the RE emissions. The RE emission intensities depended on Al concentration. The improvement of the RE emissions could be attributed to the defects and crystallizations caused by Al codoping in the ZnO:RE nanofilms.

Gold nanosphere enhanced green and red fluorescence in ZnO: Al, Eu3+

“…Though works have been reported on AZO 5,6 and Eu 3þ doped ZnO 7,8 separately, report on fluorescence studies on Al and Eu 3þ co doped ZnO is extremely rare. 9 Photoluminescence (PL) quenching of Rhodamine 6G dye due to fluorescence energy transfer to Au@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles 10 and enhancement and quenching of Eu 3þ emission from Eu(III)EDTA,3H 2 O complex, in presence of Au@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles and Au nanoparticles, 11 indicate how proximity of emitter with metal nanoparticle can influence the recombination and energy transfer processes. Optimal conjugation of metal nanoparticles (MNP) with fluorescent particles is an effective way to augment fluorescence yield.…”