Energy transfer in ZnO-anthracene hybrid structure

Anthracene dispersed in Polyphenylsiloxane (PPS) glass was synthesized on epitaxially grown zinc oxide (ZnO) to realize organic/inorganic hybrid semiconductors for efficient energy transfer. The photoluminescence (PL) from ZnO was modified by the presence of anthracene molecules due to resonant energy transfer. The UV-visible emission from anthracene molecule was also influenced due to resonant coupling with the excitonic and defect bound excitonic states in ZnO. Temperature dependence of PL of the hybrid system showed quenching of the defect bound emission of the ZnO to be due to energy transfer from anthracene. The PL lifetime in ZnO-anthracene/PPS hybrid structure at 4 K is relatively shorter and becomes comparable to the PL lifetimes in ZnO at 77 K. However, at room temperatures the PL lifetime of the hybrid structure is significantly longer than in ZnO and is comparable to the recombination lifetime in anthracene. (C)2012 Optical Society of America