Synthesis and photoluminescence of Eu3+ and O2- co-doped ZnS nanoparticles with yellow emission synthesized by a solid-state reaction

• Published in: Journal of luminescence Vol. 190; pp. 364 - 370
• Main Authors: Li, Xiaoxia, Chen, Zhong, Yu, Zhiyong, Huang, Xinyang, Yu, Quanmao, Wang, Shuzhen, Wang, Zheming, Wan, Dongqin, Luo, Maohua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Co-doped; Nanoparticles; Photoluminescence; Solid-state reaction; ZnS; Nanoparticles; Co-doped; Solid-state reaction; ZnS; Photoluminescence
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2017.05.076

ZnS:Eu, O nanoparticles were synthesized by a solid-state reaction at 90°C for the first time. The effect of Eu3+ and O2- co-doping on the photoluminescence (PL) of the samples was researched. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), ultraviolet-visible diffusion reflection spectra, and PL spectra were used to characterize their crystal structure, chemical compositions, diameter, and PL properties. The results showed that all nanoparticles had a cubic blende crystal structure and an average crystallite size of 3.3–4.0nm. Besides the emission from the ZnS host, typical luminescence of Eu3+ was all observed in the emission spectra of ZnS:Eu, O nanoparticles, and ZnS:Eu, O nanoparticles showed yellow emissions under 464nm excitation. The PL intensity remarkably increased with the increase of O2- concentration, and the maximum emission with correlated color temperature ~ 2419K was obtained in the ZnS:1% Eu, 5% O sample, and about 2.75 times stronger than the undoped ZnS nanoparticles. Mechanism for the enhanced luminescence was discussed. This work suggests that Eu3+ and O2- co-doped ZnS nanoparticles prepared by the low temperature solid-state reaction method can be used for Light-Emitting Diodes.