Preparation and photoluminescence of surface N-doped ZnO nanocrystal

ZnO nanoparticles doped with nitrogen on surface were prepared by calcinating pure ZnO nanoparticles at 550 and 600 T in NH3 atmosphere. Uniform N-doped ZnO nanocrystal was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and XPS. A Strong violet photoluminescence (PL) at 400nm was observed at room temperature when excited with 300 nm light, and the emission peak increases with the increase of nitrogen atoms concentration. The violet PL originated from the electron transition from shallow donor levels of oxygen vacancies and doping nitrogen atoms to the top of valence band level. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.