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Study of Photoconductivity and Photoluminescence in ZnO Microstructures Synthesized by Thermal Decomposition of Zinc Nitrate

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Abstract

In the present work, ZnO microstructures are synthesized by thermal decomposition of zinc nitrate [Zn(NO3)2·6H2O] in air at 500 °C for 3 h. Structural and morphological study of ZnO microstructures have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy of ZnO microstructures exhibits absorption edge at 381 nm. Room temperature photoluminescence spectrum exhibits strong ultraviolet emission together with feeble visible emissions. In photoconductivity study, rise and decay of photocurrents under UV–Vis illumination have been recorded in air as well as in vacuum. Trap depth is calculated using decay portion of the rise and decay of photocurrent.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to N.C.E.M.P, University of Allahabad, Allahabad for providing XRD and SEM facilities. S.K.M is grateful to UGC New Delhi for providing financial assistance under Dr. D. S. Kothari Post-Doctoral Fellowship [Ref. No. F.4-2/2006 (BSR)/13-764/2012 (BSR)].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronics and Communication, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211002, India

    Ravi S. Saxena & Rajneesh K. Srivastava

  2. Department of Physics, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India

    S. K. Mishra & R. K. Shukla

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  1. Ravi S. Saxena
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  2. Rajneesh K. Srivastava
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  3. S. K. Mishra
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  4. R. K. Shukla
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Correspondence to Rajneesh K. Srivastava.

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Saxena, R.S., Srivastava, R.K., Mishra, S.K. et al. Study of Photoconductivity and Photoluminescence in ZnO Microstructures Synthesized by Thermal Decomposition of Zinc Nitrate. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. A Phys. Sci. 88, 157–162 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40010-016-0321-x

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