The optical properties of rare earth Gd doped ZnO nanocrystals

We present a study of the light emission properties, from UV to blue spectral region, of Gd doped ZnO nanocrystals fabricated by means of a thermal evaporation vapor phase deposition process. The samples were grown from a mixed Zn/Gd source, with a molar percentage of Gd ranging from 0% (pure ZnO) to 5%, 10%, or 15%, in a constant O₂/Ar gas mixture flowing at 500° C. The pure ZnO nanocrystals exhibited a strong and predominant UV emission peaking at 375 nm. Besides the UV emission of ZnO nanocrystals, two strong blue emissions, located at 432 and 397 nm, are observed for the sample doped with 5% Gd. The strong blue emissions are mainly induced by the impurity levels of Gd introduced into the band gap of the ZnO nanocrystals. The UV emission of ZnO decreases as the doping concentration of Gd increases, and the blue emission is replaced by a broad defect emission due to the greater number of defects and impurities, as well as Gd₂O₃ on the surface. The results show that the optical properties of ZnO can be tuned by the doping concentration of Gd.