Optical and Luminescence Properties of Zinc Oxide

TL;DR

This paper systematically reviews the optical and luminescence properties of ZnO in various forms, analyzing emission mechanisms, controlling factors, and potential applications like scintillators, based on extensive experimental data.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive generalization of experimental data on ZnO's optical and luminescence properties, including mechanisms and control methods, which was lacking in prior studies.

Findings

Identification of two main emission bands in ZnO

Relationship between the two luminescence bands

Control of ZnO luminescence characteristics through impurity and synthesis parameters

Abstract

We generalize and systematize basic experimental data on optical and luminescence properties of ZnO single crystals, thin films, powders, ceramics, and nanocrystals. We consider and study mechanisms by which two main emission bands occur, a short-wavelength band near the fundamental absorption edge and a broad long-wavelength band, the maximum of which usually lies in the green spectral range. We determine a relationship between the two luminescence bands and study in detail the possibility of controlling the characteristics of ZnO by varying the maximum position of the short-wavelength band. We show that the optical and luminescence characteristics of ZnO largely depend on the choice of the corresponding impurity and the parameters of the synthesis and subsequent treatment of the sample. Prospects for using zinc oxide as a scintillator material are discussed. Additionally, we consider experimental results that are of principal interest for practice.