Nanosheet-based microspheres of Eu3+-doped ZnO with efficient energy transfer from ZnO to Eu3+ at room temperature

Nanosheet-based microspheres of ZnO:Eu (see figure) are fabricated via pyrolysis of Zn-5(OH)(6)(CO3)(2) hierarchical microspheres. Efficient ZnO-->Eu3+ energy transfer is observed, which is attributed to surface defects at the nonpolar [1100] surface of a ZnO nanosheet that couples with Eu3+ and stabilizes the Eu2+ trap level just below the conduction band of ZnO.