Photoluminescence properties of Eu3+-doped ZnO nanoneedles

Eu3+-doped ZnO nanoneedles were fabricated by thermal evaporation. In order to include Eu in ZnO nanostructures, europium nitrate was used to produce starting droplets from which ZnO nanoneedles were grown. Photoluminescence spectra included a sharp blue peak corresponding to the ZnO band gap and a broad red band due to defect states. In addition, sharp intra-4f transitions of Eu3+ ions were observed. Energy transfer from the ZnO matrix to Eu3+ was also observed. Study of the photoluminescence excitation revealed absorption tail states below the ZnO band gap induced by the inclusion of Eu ions in the ZnO nanoneedles. The location of Eu ions was assumed to be near the surfaces of the ZnO nanoneedles.