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Tunable Fluorescence Properties Due to Carbon Incorporation in Zinc Oxide Nanowires
Author(s) -
Lim Kim Yong,
Linghu Jiajun,
Chi Xiao,
Yuan Kaidi,
Hew Kai Ming,
Zheng Minrui,
Yang Ming,
Tok Eng Soon,
Rusydi Andrivo,
Yu Xiaojiang,
Chen Wei,
Feng Yuan Ping,
Sow Chorng Haur
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced optical materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 91
ISSN - 2195-1071
DOI - 10.1002/adom.201700381
Subject(s) - materials science , photoluminescence , fluorescence , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , ultraviolet , zinc , nanowire , carbon fibers , photochemistry , annealing (glass) , oxide , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , chemical engineering , optics , chemistry , physics , composite material , composite number , metallurgy , engineering , chromatography
It is shown experimentally that carbon incorporation into zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires (NWs) plays a crucial role in determining the NWs' fluorescence and photoluminescence properties. Through intentional adjustment of chemical vapor deposition growth parameters to allow for carbon incorporation, the ZnO NWs' fluorescence under ultraviolet excitation can be varied controllably from green to orange‐red. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy correlate carbon incorporation to a systematic shifting of ZnO NWs' fluorescence toward higher wavelengths. This is consistent with a previous theoretical prediction of orange‐red fluorescence arising from a carbon‐related defect within ZnO. In the present work, further computational results from simulation of high carbon content within the ZnO lattice yield additional carbon‐related defect species as possible origins of orange‐red fluorescence. Furthermore, the extent of simulated band gap energies can help explain the broad visible fluorescence spectrum from carbon incorporated ZnO. Additional experiments involving plasma etching and oxygen annealing agree with the inferences of carbon‐related defects as a source of variable visible‐light emissions.