Precipitation processes and luminescence properties of ZnO: La3+, Li+ nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of Central South University Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 332 - 336
• Main Authors: Gu, Ying-ying, Li, Lu-ke, Zhang, Wen-wen, Liu, Ying, Lu, Zhou-guang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Central South University 01-02-2013
• Subjects: Engineering; Metallic Materials; doping; co-precipitation method; ZnO:La; nanoparticles; Li; luminescence properties
• ISSN: 2095-2899; 2227-5223
• DOI: 10.1007/s11771-013-1492-0

ZnO:La
3+
,Li
+
nanoparticles were successfully prepared by co-precipitation, citric acid-assisted co-precipitation, co-precipitation combined solid-state reaction and thermal decomposition method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and luminescence spectrophotometry were employed to characterize the crystal phases, particle sizes and luminescence properties of the as-prepared nanopowders. The results indicate that all the prepared samples crystallize in a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The ZnO:La
3+
,Li
+
prepared by citric acid-assisted co-precipitation method has a particle size of about 80 nm, which is the smallest among all the samples. Fluorescence (FL) spectra of all samples exhibit three typical emissions: a violet one centered at around 400 nm, blue around 450 nm and 466 nm, and weak green near 520 nm. But the samples prepared by co-precipitation method show a strong and wide green light emission located at about 500 nm. The ZnO:La
3+
,Li
+
nanoparticles synthesized by the co-precipitation method demonstrate relatively the strongest emission intensity.