title: Optical properties of Nd3+ ion-doped ZnO nanocrystals.
abstract: Hexagonal Nd(3+)-doped ZnO nanocrystals with multiple luminescent centers were synthesized by means of a facile sol-gel method. The Nd(3+)-doped ZnO nanocrystals were characterized by using the X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible reflectance spectra, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Host-to-Nd3+ energy transfer was observed for the first time in Nd(3+)-doped ZnO nanocrystals. It was found that Nd3+ ions can be effectively sensitized by the ZnO nanocrystals, resulting in sharp and intense characteristic Nd3+ luminescence. The photoluminescence (PL) and PL excitation spectra of Nd3+ ions in the ZnO nanocrystals were investigated in detail. Furthermore, the possible mechanism of host-to-Nd3+ energy transfer was also proposed on the basis of the optical properties of Nd3+ ions in the ZnO nanocrystals.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials Chemistry and Physics, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China.
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wenqin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Renfu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xueyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen