Emission of ZnO:Ag nanorods obtained by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

• Published in: Physica. B, Condensed matter Vol. 453; pp. 111 - 115
• Main Authors: Velázquez Lozada, E., Torchynska, T.V., Casas Espinola, J.L., Pérez Millan, B.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15-11-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acceptor bound exciton; Condensed matter; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Diffraction; Exact sciences and technology; Excitation; Nanocrystals and nanoparticles; Nanorods; 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; Phonons; Photoluminescence; Physics; SEM; Spectra; Spray pyrolysis; X-ray diffraction; XRD; ZnO:Ag nanorods; SEM; XRD; ZnO:Ag nanorods; Acceptor bound exciton; Photoluminescence; Integrated intensity; Scanning electron microscopy; Doping; Silver additions; Ultrasonic spray pyrolysis; Defects; Exciton phonon interaction; Temperature effects; Zinc oxide; Bound exciton; Activation energy; Nanorod
• ISSN: 0921-4526; 1873-2135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physb.2014.04.083

Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) and its temperature dependence have been studied in ZnO:Ag nanorods (NRs) prepared by the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) method. The time variation at the growth of ZnO:Ag films permits modifying the ZnO phase from the amorphous to crystalline, to change the size of ZnO:Ag NRs and to vary their emission spectra. PL spectra of ZnO:Ag NRs versus temperature has been investigated. This study reveals that the PL band related to the acceptor AgZn (LO phonon replicas of an acceptor bound exciton, ABE (2.877eV)), and its second-order diffraction peak (1.44eV) disappeared in the temperature range of 10–170K with the formation of free exciton (FX). The PL intensity of defect related PL bands decreases monotonously in the range 10–300K with the activation energy of 13meV. The PL band (3.22eV), related to the LO phonon replica of free exciton (FX-2LO) and its second-order diffraction peak (1.61eV) increase monotonously in the range 10–300K. FX related peak dominates in PL spectra at room temperature that testifies on the high quality of ZnO:Ag films prepared by the USP technology.