Photoluminescent Nanoparticle Surfaces: The Potential of Alkaline Earth Oxides for Optical Applications

The surfaces of alkaline earth oxides emit bright, colored light and have potential as thermally stable inorganic phosphors with adsorption-dependent optical properties. The doping of thermally stable MgO nanocubes with low-coordinated BaO surface elements (see figure) clearly demonstrates that chemical manipulation of the solid-gas interface provides an efficient means to adjust the optical properties of powders in controlled gas atmospheres