Effect of surface defects on the visible emission from ZnO nanoparticles

The luminescent property of ZnO nanoparticles prepared using the wet chemical method has been investigated. The ZnO nanoparticles in the range 5–10 nm exhibit hexagonal Wurtzite structure, and the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum at room temperature shows a broad visible luminescence band and insignificant near-bandgap emission. The broad green luminescence is dominant at both room and boiled off liquid-nitrogen temperature, while the ultraviolet band edge emission is strongly quenched. The prepared ZnO nanoparticles have residual intermediate compound on the surface in the form of an acetate group, which acts as defect centers for the emission of green luminescence. A trace amount of zinc hydroxide is observed in one of the samples and is found to further enhance the intensity of the green luminescence. Raman scattering studies on nanoparticles indicate that the acetate/hydroxyl groups are loosely bound on the surface and are not present in the interior of the ZnO crystal structure