Control of the visible emission in the SrZrO3 nano-crystals with the rare earth ion doping.
We investigated the emission property of SrZrO3 nano-crystals (NCs) with the doping of rare earth (RE) ions, Eu3+ and Tm3+, by using 325 nm photo-excitation. SrZrO3 NCs show a sizable violet-blue emission, while the Eu3+ and Tm3+ ions are well known to be good red and blue phosphors, respectively. Combined emissions of the host and the RE ion dopant might suggest a new white luminescent source. The RE ion doped SrZrO3 NCs were initially synthesized by using the combustion method, and then the as-synthesized crystals were annealed at different temperatures from 650 degrees C to 1450 degrees C. The Eu3+-doped SrZrO3 NCs showed the sharp red emission near 600 nm, in addition to a violet-blue emission of the host material in itself. While the red emission is enhanced in the high temperature post-annealing, the blue emission is suppressed in an opposite way. This close relation between the emissions of the host and dopant was observed similarly in the Tm3+-doped NCs. We could control the emission property in the SrZrO3:Eu3+/Tm3+ NCs from blue to red by thermal annealing and RE ion doping.
Department of Physics, Soongsil University, Seoul 156-743, Republic of Korea.
Dong Hwan
DH
Kim
Ji Hyun
JH
Kim
Jin Seok
JS
Chung
Yunsang
Y
Lee
D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D007477:Ions; D008027:Light; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000737:chemistry*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013324:Strontium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
D007477:Ions; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide; D013324:Strontium