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Blue luminescence from Ce-doped ZnO thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering

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Abstract

The photoluminescence properties of undoped and Ce-doped ZnO thin films that were prepared by DC magnetron sputtering were investigated. It was found that the incorporation of Ce could intensively affect the structural, optical, and photoluminescence properties of the ZnO thin films. The undoped ZnO thin films showed a sharp UV luminescence, whereas the Ce-doped ZnO thin films showed a broad blue luminescence. The effects of excitation wavelength and annealing atmosphere on the photoluminescence properties of Ce-doped ZnO thin films were also studied. After post-annealing in air and oxygen atmospheres, the blue emissions of the prepared films were drastically suppressed. Our results indicate that the blue emissions of Ce-doped ZnO thin films are related to zinc interstitials and the intrinsic transition of Ce3+ ions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Nos. 50825101, 50971108, and 51171158) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 201112G015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P.R. China

    Q. Luo, L. S. Wang, H. Z. Guo, K. Q. Lin, Y. Chen, G. H. Yue & D. L. Peng

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  1. Q. Luo
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  2. L. S. Wang
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  3. H. Z. Guo
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  4. K. Q. Lin
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  7. D. L. Peng
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Correspondence to D. L. Peng.

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Luo, Q., Wang, L.S., Guo, H.Z. et al. Blue luminescence from Ce-doped ZnO thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering. Appl. Phys. A 108, 239–245 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-6883-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-6883-9

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