Effect of RF power on the structural, optical and gas sensing properties of RF-​sputtered Al doped ZnO thin films

The effect of Radio Frequency (RF) power on the properties of magnetron sputtered Al doped ZnO thin films and the related sensor properties are investigated. A series of 2 wt​% Al doped ZnO; Zn0.98Al0.02O (AZO) thin films prepd. with magnetron sputtering at different RF powers, are examd. The structural results reveal a good adhesive nature of thin films with quartz substrates as well as increasing thickness of the films with increasing RF power. Besides, the increasing RF power is found to improve the crystallinity and grain growth as confirmed by X-​ray diffraction. On the other hand, the optical transmittance is significantly influenced by the RF power, where the transparency values achieved are higher than 82​% for all the AZO thin films and the estd. optical band gap energy is found to decrease with RF power due to an increase in the crystallite size as well as the film thickness. In addn., the defect induced luminescence at low temp. (77 K) and room temp. (300 K) was studied through photoluminescence spectroscopy, it is found that the defect d. of electronic states of the Al3+ ion increases with an increase of RF power due to the increase in the thickness of the film and the crystallite size. The gas sensing behavior of AZO films was studied for NO2 at 350 °C. The AZO film shows a good response towards NO2 gas and also a good relationship between the response and the NO2 concn., which is modeled using an empirical formula. The sensing mechanism of NO2 is discussed

Luminescence studies during combustion synthesis of a long afterglow phosphor Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺

178-180The long glow persistent phosphor Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+, Dy3+ has been synthesized through combustion route. SrAl4O7 and SrAl2O4 are identified as the intermediate products formed at different temperatures during the synthesis of Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+,Dy3+. The photoluminescence and afterglow emission of the intermediate products have been systematically studied. The photoluminescence and afterglow emission profiles of the intermediate products varied with the temperature of synthesis. For a sample with similar aluminate phases (at a particular synthesis temperature) the λAGL and λPL are different. However, for Sr4Al14O25:Eu2+,Dy3+ annealed at 1200-1300ºC, the AGL and PL emissions are similar

Synthesis, characterization and optical properties of hybrid PVA-ZnO nanocomposite: A composition dependent study

Nanocomposites of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and ZnO have been synthesized using the solution casting technique for different concentrations of nano ZnO powder prepared by low temperature solution combustion method. The formation of polymer nanocomposite and changes in the structural and micro structural properties of the materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy and optical microscopy techniques (FTIR and UV-Visible). The surface morphology of PVA-ZnO nanocomposite films were elucidated using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The optical absorption spectrum of nano ZnO shows blue shift in the optical band gap energy with respect to characteristic bulk ZnO at room temperature, whereas PVA-ZnO hybrid films show red shift with respect to nano ZnO. The photoluminescence studies show that the intensity of the blue emission (470 nm) varies with change in concentration of ZnO with an optimum intensity observed at 10 mol of ZnO. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd

Synthesis, characterization, thermo- and photoluminescence properties of Bi 3+ co-doped Gd 2O 3:Eu 3+ nanophosphors

Gd2O3:Eu3+ (4 mol%) co-doped with Bi3+ (Bi = 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 mol%) ions were synthesized by a low-temperature solution combustion method. The powders were calcined at 800°C and were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The PXRD profiles confirm that the calcined products were in monoclinic with little cubic phases. The particle sizes were estimated using Scherrer’s method and Williamson–Hall plots and are found to be in the ranges 40–60 nm and 30–80 nm, respectively. The results are in good agreement with TEM results. The photoluminescence spectra of the synthesized phosphors excited with 230 nm show emission peaks at ∼590, 612 and 625 nm, which are due to the transitions 5D0→7F0, 5D0→7F2 and 5D0→7F3 of Eu3+, respectively. It is observed that a significant quenching of Eu3+ emission was observed under 230 nm excitation when Bi3+ was co-doped. On the other hand, upon 350 nm excitation, the luminescent intensity of Eu3+ ions was enhanced by incorporation of Bi3+ (5 mol%) ions. The introduction of Bi3+ ions broadened the excitation band of Eu3+ of which a new strong band occurred ranging from 320 to 380 nm. This has been attributed to the 6s2→6s6p transition of Bi3+ ions, implying a very efficient energy transfer from Bi3+ ions to Eu3+ ions. The gamma radiation response of Gd2O3:Eu3+ exhibited a dosimetrically useful glow peak at 380°C. Using thermoluminescence glow peaks, the trap parameters have been evaluated and discussed. The observed emission characteristics and energy transfer indicate that Gd2O3:Eu3+, Bi3+ phosphors have promising applications in solid-state lighting

Luminescence studies on photostimulable phosphor CsBr:Eu2+

Photostimulable phosphor CsBr:Eu2+ is prepared through a solid-state reaction. The effect of annealing atmosphere on photoluminescence and photostimulated luminescence was investigated. Optimum luminescence intensity was obtained when samples were prepared at 350 degrees C in air atmosphere. The effect of irradiation of gamma and neutron had resulted in the formation of optically stimulable traps with different trap depths. The role of monovalent and divalent dopants on thermoluminescence dosimetric properties has been discussed

Single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer scanning near-field optical microscopy: potentials and challenges

A few years ago, single molecule Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscope (FRET SNOM) images were demonstrated using CdSe semiconductor nanocrystal-dye molecules as donor-acceptor pairs. Corresponding experiments reveal the necessity to exploit much more photostable fluorescent centers for such an imaging technique to become a practically used tool. Here we report the results of our experiments attempting to use nitrogen vacancy (NV) color centers in nanodiamond (ND) crystals, which are claimed to be extremely photostable, for FRET SNOM. All attempts were unsuccessful, and as a plausible explanation we propose the absence (instability) of NV centers lying close enough to the ND border. We also report improvements in SNOM construction that are necessary for single molecule FRET SNOM imaging. In particular, we present the first topographical images of single strand DNA molecules obtained with fiber-based SNOM. The prospects of using rare earth ions in crystals, which are known to be extremely photostable, for single molecule FRET SNOM at room temperature and quantum informatics at liquid helium temperatures, where FRET is a coherent process, are also discussed