Structural and photoluminescence properties of terbium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

We present in this paper a study of the structural and photoluminescence (PL) properties of terbium (Tb) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles synthesized by a simple low temperature chemical precipitation method, using zinc acetate and terbium nitrate in an isopropanol medium with diethanolamine (DEA) as the capping agent at 60 • C. The as-prepared samples were heat treated and the PL of the annealed samples were studied. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD patterns show the pattern of typical ZnO nanoparticles and correspond with the standard XRD pattern given by JCPDS card No. 36-1451, showing the hexagonal phase structure. The PL intensity was enhanced due to Tb 3+ doping, and it decreased at higher concentrations of Tb 3+ doping after reaching a certain optimum concentration. The PL spectra of Tb 3+ doped samples exhibited blue, bluish green, and green emissions at 460 nm ( 5 D 3 -7 F 3 ), 484 nm ( 5 D 4 -7 F 6 ), and 530 nm ( 5 D 4 -7 F 5 ), respectively, which were more intense than the emissions for the undoped ZnO sample. Based on the results, an energy level schematic diagram was proposed to explain the possible electron transition processes.

Rare Earth Doped Zinc Oxide Nanophosphor Powder: A Future Material for Solid State Lighting and Solar Cells

“…The PL intensity was shown to increase with concentration of Tb 3+ , but it decreased due to concentration quenching effects beyond a certain maximum value. 135 The photoluminescence from ZnO:Tb 3+ was blue (460 nm), bluish green (484 nm), and green (530 nm) associated, respectively, with the 5 D 3 → 7 F 3 , 5 D 4 → 7 F 6 , and 5 D 4 → 7 F 5 transitions of Tb 3+ , and these were more intense than the photoluminescence from undoped ZnO. A schematic diagram was proposed to explain the possible electron transition processes based on the results shown in Figure 9c.…”

Effect of size on momentum distribution of electrons around vacancies in NiO nanoparticles

“…From the XRD data we measured the lattice constant of each sample. We combined the Bragg's equation [23] with the lattice constant and Miller indices to get the relation…”

Synthesis, Structural, Magnetic, Dielectric and Optical Properties of Co Doped Cr-Zn Oxide Nanoparticles for Spintronic Devices

“…Relatively wide energy band gap (~3.37 eV), high excitation binding energy (~60 MeV) and oxygen vacancies based moderate conducting properties make zinc oxide nanoparticles suitable for optoelectronic devices operating within the blue and ultraviolet (UV) region. [3] Undoped ZnO is not suitable for some photocatalytic applications due to its weak optical features and can be improved by substitution of transition metal ions or rare earth ions. Nowadays, transition metal (TM) doped zinc oxide nanoparticles are extensively investigated due to their wide range of applications in solar cells, LED's, gas sensors, electrodes, and photocatalysts etc.…”