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Structural and optical properties of nanocrystalline ZnO thin films derived from clear emulsion of monodispersed ZnO nanocrystals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Keigo Suzuki*
Affiliation:
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto 617-8555, Japan
Hiroshi Takagi
Affiliation:
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Nagaokakyo-shi, Kyoto 617-8555, Japan
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

In this study, the dense films of well-crystallized ZnO nanocrystals were successfully prepared by direct spin-coating of the colloidal solution of ZnO nanoparticles derived from the microemulsion method. The average grain sizes in the films were reasonably controlled in the range from 6.5 to 34.3 nm by simply changing the annealing temperatures. The increase in band gap energies was found in the size region less than 13.3 nm, finally resulting in 3.47 eV for the average size of 6.5 nm. The photoluminescence spectra at room temperature showed intense ultraviolet (UV) emission with faint green luminescence. The Stokes shifts of the films were estimated to be one or two orders of magnitude smaller than those of the conventional ZnO nanocrystalline films, suggesting the well crystallization and slight amounts of lattice defects in the ZnO nanoparticles. These excellent features may be favorable to make high-performance optical application such as UV emitting devices.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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