Controlling the exciton energy of zinc oxide (ZnO) quantum dots by changing the confinement conditions

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by solid state and hydrolysis methods based on the conventional precipitation. In situ growth of ZnO nanoparticles were monitored by photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). By the help of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique, detailed analysis of intrinsic defect structure of ZnO was given with respect to mean particle size. In nanoscale concentration of surface defects enormously increased and core defects reduced. In addition, blue-shift was observed in PL spectra at near-band-edge UV region due to e-h recombination. Calculation of band gap energies by the aid of Brus equation revealed consistent results with the experimental observations. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.