Synthesis of zinc oxide microrods and nano-fibers with dominant exciton emission at room temperature

• Published in: Journal of luminescence Vol. 131; no. 5; pp. 874 - 879
• Main Authors: Ramos-Brito, F., Alejo-Armenta, C., García-Hipólito, M., Camarillo, E., Hernández A, J., Falcony, C., Murrieta S, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cathodoluminescence, ionoluminescence; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Enhanced UV-emission; Exact sciences and technology; Ii-vi semiconductors; Microrods; Nano-fibers; Nanocrystals and nanoparticles; 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; Other luminescence and radiative recombination; Photoluminescence; Physics; ZnO; Enhanced UV-emission; Nano-fibers; ZnO; Microrods; Defect density; Photoluminescence; Nanofiber; XRD; Cathodoluminescence; Lattice parameters; Preferred orientation; Excitons; Zinc oxide; Chemical synthesis; Optical constants; Microwire
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2010.12.017

Employing a simple chemical synthesis method, hexagonal-shaped zinc oxide microrods and zinc oxide nano-fibers were deposited on pyrex-glass and aluminum substrates, respectively. Both kinds of deposits showed zincite crystalline phase with lattice parameters: a=3.2498Å and c=5.2066Å. Microrods showed very uniform wide and large sizes of around 1 and 10μm, respectively. Both deposits were homogeneous over all substrate surfaces. Microrods and nano-fibers resulted with good optical quality and with preferential crystalline growth in [1010] and [0001] directions. The principal optical characteristics for both microrods and nano-fibers were: a) room-temperature photo and cathodo-luminescent spectra with strong exciton emission centered around 390nm and with FWHMs around 125 and 160meV, respectively, b) poor photo and cathode-luminescent emissions in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, c) energy band gap of 3.32eV, d) good emission efficiency supported by the not-required high energy densities to obtain strong exciton emission and e) good ZnO stoichiometry endorsed by photoluminescent results. These characteristics make of these microrods and nano-fibers good for potential photonic applications. ► Microrods and nano-fibers resulted with good optical quality and with preferential crystalline growth in [1010] and [0001] directions. ► Microrods and nano-fibers resulted with good emission efficiency supported by the not-required high energy densities to obtain strong exciton emission. ► The wet chemical method is appropriated for deposition of microrods and nano-fibers with the desired optical properties for its possible application in photonics.