Growth-morphology-luminescence correlation in ZnO-containing nanostructures synthesized in different media

• Published in: Journal of luminescence 2012-06, Vol.132 (6), p.1589-1596
• Main Authors: Japic, Dajana, Antonio Paramo, J., Marinsek, Marjan, Strzhemechny, Yuri M., Crnjak Orel, Zorica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis methods; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Correlation; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Luminescence; Materials science; Methods of nanofabrication; Morphology; Nanocrystals and nanoparticles; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Nanostructures; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of low-dimensional, mesoscopic, and nanoscale materials and structures; Photoluminescence; Physics; Precipitation; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectroscopy; Zinc; Zinc hydroxide carbonate; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2012.01.041

Zinc hydroxide particles were prepared by a two-step process employing zinc nitrate hexahydrate, urea, ethylene glycol, water and p-toluene-sulfonic acid monohydrate (p-TSA). We used different concentrations of the reactants as well as different volume ratios of the solvents. ZnO particles were obtained by thermal treatment of the reaction products at two different temperatures: 350°C and 500°C. The samples were characterized by scanning field emission electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, BET analysis, thermogravimetry (TG) analysis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. It was found that after the thermal treatment particles become smaller, with the p-TSA concentration strongly affecting the morphology of the particles. Luminescence properties of the samples probed by PL at 8K and room temperature exhibited a remarkable correlation with specimens′ nanomorphology. Luminescent features at ∼2.0–2.2eV, ∼2.4–2.5eV, ∼2.65eV, ∼2.9eV, ∼3.0–3.1eV and ∼3.3eV were observed in most specimens, although their relative intensity and temperature dependence were specific to an individual group of samples vis-à-vis their growth history and morphology. ► ZnO-containing nanostructures grown by precipitation were investigated. ► Samples' morphology can be carefully tailored via growth control parameters. ► Strong dependence of optoelectronic properties on specimens' morphology was observed. ► Efficient control of composition, morphology and luminescence via synthesis parameters.