Electron paramagnetic resonance study of ZnO varistor material

Doping of ZnO inorganic-organic nanohybrids with metal elements

We present a general and in-depth study of the effect of dopants in hybrid inorganic/organic ZnO/PAA (polyacrylic acid) nanocomposites. These dopants vary as much by their ionic size, as by their electronic valence and some of them have been used in ZnO due to their known magnetic and/or optical properties. The chemical nature of the dopants controls their ability to incorporate into ZnO crystal lattice. Three concentrations (0.1%, 1% and 5%) of dopants were studied in order to compare the effect of the concentration with the results obtained previously in the literature. Our results confirm in the first place the trend observed in the literature, that increase in dopant concentration leads to quenching of visible luminescence for ZnO nanocrystals obtained by very different processes. However, the degradation of photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) is not inevitable in our nanocomposites. At low doping concentration for some dopants with a small or comparable ionic radius than Zn²⁺, PL QY can be maintained or even improved, making it possible to tune the visible emission spectrum between 2.17 eV and 2.46 eV. This opens up the prospect of synthesizing phosphors without rare earth for white LEDs, whose spectrum can be tuned to render warm or cold white light, by a chemical synthesis process with a low environmental impact.

Tailoring the Dopant Distribution in ZnO:Mn Nanocrystals

The synthesis of semiconductor nanocrystals with controlled doping is highly challenging, as often a significant part of the doping ions are found segregated at nanocrystals surface, even forming secondary phases, rather than incorporated in the core. We have investigated the dopant distribution dynamics under slight changes in the preparation procedure of nanocrystalline ZnO doped with manganese in low concentration by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, paying attention to the formation of transient secondary phases and their transformation into doped ZnO. The acidification of the starting solution in the co-precipitation synthesis from nitrate precursors lead to the decrease of the Mn²⁺ ions concentration in the core of the ZnO nanocrystals and their accumulation in minority phases, until ~79% of the Mn²⁺ ions were localized in a thin disordered shell of zinc hydroxynitrate (ZHN). A lower synthesis temperature resulted in polycrystalline Mn-doped ZHN. Under isochronal annealing up to 250 °C the bulk ZHN and the minority phases from the ZnO samples decomposed into ZnO. The Mn²⁺ ions distribution in the annealed nanocrystals was significantly altered, varying from a uniform volume distribution to a preferential localization in the outer layers of the nanocrystals. Our results provide a synthesis strategy for tailoring the dopant distribution in ZnO nanocrystals for applications ranging from surface based to ones involving core properties.

Heat transfer enhancement in free convection flow of CNTs Maxwell nanofluids with four different types of molecular liquids

This article investigates heat transfer enhancement in free convection flow of Maxwell nanofluids with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) over a vertically static plate with constant wall temperature. Two kinds of CNTs i.e. single walls carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiple walls carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are suspended in four different types of base liquids (Kerosene oil, Engine oil, water and ethylene glycol). Kerosene oil-based nanofluids are given a special consideration due to their higher thermal conductivities, unique properties and applications. The problem is modelled in terms of PDE's with initial and boundary conditions. Some relevant non-dimensional variables are inserted in order to transmute the governing problem into dimensionless form. The resulting problem is solved via Laplace transform technique and exact solutions for velocity, shear stress and temperature are acquired. These solutions are significantly controlled by the variations of parameters including the relaxation time, Prandtl number, Grashof number and nanoparticles volume fraction. Velocity and temperature increases with elevation in Grashof number while Shear stress minimizes with increasing Maxwell parameter. A comparison between SWCNTs and MWCNTs in each case is made. Moreover, a graph showing the comparison amongst four different types of nanofluids for both CNTs is also plotted.

Controlling the exciton energy of zinc oxide (ZnO) quantum dots by changing the confinement conditions

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by solid state and hydrolysis methods based on the conventional precipitation. In situ growth of ZnO nanoparticles were monitored by photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). By the help of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique, detailed analysis of intrinsic defect structure of ZnO was given with respect to mean particle size. In nanoscale concentration of surface defects enormously increased and core defects reduced. In addition, blue-shift was observed in PL spectra at near-band-edge UV region due to e-h recombination. Calculation of band gap energies by the aid of Brus equation revealed consistent results with the experimental observations.

Effects of doping and annealing on properties of ZnO films grown by atomic layer deposition

Undoped and Al-doped ZnO films were synthesized by atomic layer deposition at 150°C and then annealed at 350°C in different atmospheres. Effects of doping and annealing on the film growth mode and properties were investigated. The undoped film has strong UV emission and weak Zn interstitial emission. Annealing introduces O vacancies, decreases Zn interstitials, and results in weakening and blue-shifting of the UV emission which is sensitive to annealing atmosphere. Al doping induces the film growing with its c-axis parallel to the substrate surface. It also introduces non-radiative centers and weakens the UV emission. Al doping widens the film bandgap, which has a quadratic dependence on Al content. Al doping decreases the film resistivity to 5.3 × 10(-3) Ω · cm. Annealing has little effect on photoluminescence of the doped films, but it degrades undoped and doped ZnO film conductivity dramatically; and the degradation depends on the annealing ambient.