Tailored synthesis of ZnO:Er(III) nanosystems by a hybrid rf-sputtering/sol-gel route

Journal Article · Fri Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, International Journal Devoted to Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.2333573· OSTI ID:20853544

Armelao, Lidia; Barreca, Davide; Bottaro, Gregorio; Gasparotto, Alberto; Leonarduzzi, Daniele; Maragno, Cinzia; Tondello, Eugenio; Sada, Cinzia ^[1]

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1. ISTM-CNR and INSTM, Department of Chemistry, Padova University, Via Marzolo 1-35131 Padova (Italy)

The rational design of rare-earth doped materials represents one of the major goals of current research in the field of optoelectronics. In this study, ZnO:Er(III) nanosystems were synthesized by means of a hybrid rf-sputtering/sol-gel (SG) route, consisting of the erbium (guest) rf-sputtering on porous zinc oxide xerogels (host) obtained by the SG method, followed by ex situ thermal treatments in air (300-600 deg. C, 1-5 h). Particular attention was focused on tailoring the erbium content and distribution in the resulting systems by optimization of the processing conditions. The structural, morphological, and compositional characteristics and their interplay with the synthesis procedure were investigated by glancing incidence x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray excited Auger electron spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, UV-visible-near IR absorption spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The obtained results highlight the advantages and versatility of the adopted preparation strategy in tailoring the amount and distribution of Er(III) species in high purity ZnO matrices, resulting in nanosystems endowed with compositional and morphological homogeneity at nanoscale level.

• OSTI ID: 20853544
• Journal Information: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, International Journal Devoted to Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films, Journal Name: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, International Journal Devoted to Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 24; ISSN 1553-1813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
DEPOSITION
DOPED MATERIALS
ERBIUM
GELS
IONS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
NANOSTRUCTURES
POROUS MATERIALS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOL-GEL PROCESS
SPUTTERING
X RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ZINC OXIDES