Synthesis, characterization and photoluminescence properties of Ce ³⁺-doped ZnO-nanophosphors

The present study involves the synthesis of Ce³⁺ doped ZnO nanophosphors by the zinc nitrate and cerium nitrate co-precipitation method. The synthesized nanophosphors were characterized with respect to their crystal structure, crystal morphology, particle size and photoluminescence (PL) properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and PL-spectroscopy respectively. XRD results revealed that ZnO nanophosphors are single phase and cubic type structures. Further, PL spectra of ZnO:Ce³⁺ nanophosphors showed green emission because of the charge transfer at single occupied oxygen vacancies with ZnO holes and red emission due to the cerium ion transitions. Intensity and fine structure of the Ce³⁺ luminescence and its temperature dependence are strongly influenced by the doping conditions. The formation of ZnO:Ce³⁺ nanophosphors was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and XRD spectra.