Luminescence properties of anodically etched porous Zn

Anodization of Zn in HF/ethanol and NaOH solution yields porous structure, which luminesces in the visible region. It is observed that the luminescence properties of these samples have been found quite different. The p-Zn prepared in NaOH displays two luminescence peaks near 420 and 520 nm. On the contrary, the p-Zn prepared in HF displays luminescence peak centered at 410 nm. These samples are further studied by annealing in O-2 and N-2 ambience. Further, temperature dependence photoluminescence (PL) spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have been performed on these samples, and the possible mechanisms causing the observed PL properties from p-Zn are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.