Optical spectra and structure of CdP4 nanoclusters fabricated by incorporation into zeolite and laser ablation

TL;DR

This study investigates the optical properties and structures of CdP4 nanoclusters created via incorporation into zeolite and laser ablation, revealing specific cluster emissions and configurations through spectroscopy and DFT calculations.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the optical spectra and stable configurations of CdP4 nanoclusters in different fabrication environments.

Findings

Absorption and PL spectra show two blue-shifted bands.

Clusters identified as (CdP4)3 and (CdP4)4 with specific binding energies.

Laser ablation produces a single emission band from (CdP4)4 clusters.

Abstract

CdP4 nanoclusters were fabricated by incorporation into the pores of zeolite Na-X and by deposition of the clusters onto a quartz substrate using laser ablation-evaporation technique. Absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of CdP4 nanoclusters in zeolite were measured at the temperatures of 4.2, 77 and 293 K. Both absorption and PL spectra consist of two blue shifted bands. We performed DFT calculations to determine the most stable clusters configuration in the size region up to size of the zeolite Na-X supercage. The bands observed in absorption and PL spectra were attributed to emission of (CdP4)3 and (CdP4)4 clusters with binding energies of 3.78 eV and 4.37 eV per atom respectively. The Raman spectrum of CdP4 clusters in zeolite proved the fact of creation of (CdP4)3 and (CdP4)4 clusters in zeolite pores. The PL spectrum of CdP4 clusters produced by laser ablation consists of single band that was attributed to emission of (CdP4)4 cluster.