White-light emission from annealed ZnO:Si nanocomposite thin films

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2012.01.051
• Publication Date: 2012-02-07T10:36:44Z
• Authors: Shabnam; Chhaya Ravi Kant; P. Arun
• Keywords: Condensed Matter - Materials Science; 0103 physical sciences; Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci); FOS: Physical sciences; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; 01 natural sciences

9 figures<br/>As grown ZnO:Si nanocomposites of different compositional ratios were fabricated by thermal evaporation techniques. These films were subjected to post deposition annealing under high vacuum at a temperature of $\rm 250C^o$ for 90min. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of annealed samples have shown marked improvements both in terms of intensity and broadening. For the first time in ZnO:Si nanocomposite films we see huge UV, red and orange peaks at 310, 570 and 640nm. Structural and Raman analysis show formation of a Zn-Si-O shell around ZnO nano clusters wherein on heating $\rm Zn_2SiO_4$ compound forms. The new emissions are due to $\rm Zn_2SiO_4$ which completes white light spectrum.<br/>