Growth mechanism and ultraviolet-light emission of the self-assembled complex of MgO nanostructures

• Published in: Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology Vol. 5; no. 5; p. 825
• Main Authors: Jiang, J, Chen, Y Q, He, Z Y, Su, Y, Zhou, R L, Chen, L, Cai, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2005
• Subjects: Crystallization - methods; Luminescence; Luminescent Measurements - methods; Magnesium Oxide - chemistry; Magnesium Oxide - radiation effects; Materials Testing; Molecular Conformation; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nanostructures - radiation effects; Nanostructures - ultrastructure; Particle Size; Photochemistry - methods; Spectrum Analysis; Ultraviolet Rays
• ISSN: 1533-4880
• DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2005.103

Bulk-quantity net-like nanodendrites and four-fold hierarchical nanostructures were synthesized by direct thermal evaporation and oxidation of metallic Mg powder. Their formation mechanism is explained using the self-catalytic vapor-liquid-solid mechanism together with dendritic-crystal epitaxial growth mechanism. Four-branch and eight-branch nanodendrites were also detected. The photoluminescence spectrum reveals that the peak with the maximum intensity is centered at about 3.16 eV (392 nm). Through Gaussian fitting, a strong and narrow ultraviolet-light emission peak centered at 3.16 eV (392 nm) and a relatively weak but broad blue-light emission band centered at 2.74 eV (453 nm) were observed in the photoluminescence emission spectrum, which are respectively attributed to the recombination luminescence of the F+ and F centers (belonging to oxygen-vacancy related defect levels) in the MgO nanostructures. In addition, another very weak and broad red-infrared emission band can also be detected, which is probably due to the relaxation luminescence of impurity levels in the MgO nanostructures.