Study on growth and photoluminescence of zinc telluride crystals synthesized by hydrothermal method

Zinc telluride powders were synthesized in sodium hydroxide solution by hydrothermal method by changing the growth temperature and time. The powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The results indicate that zinc telluride crystallizes in zinc blende structure and their sizes were increased with the increase in temperature and time, and oxygen easily is incorporated into zinc telluride crystals. The photoluminescence of the powders were investigated at room temperature. The photoluminescence spectra exhibit the emission peaks related to complex defects containing zinc vacancies and impurities and excitons bound to isoelectronic oxygen traps at about 556 and 703 nm, respectively. The growth of zinc telluride crystals and the relation of the photoluminescence with the growth conditions were analyzed.

► ZnTe nanocrystals were successfully synthesized in NaOH solution.
► The photoluminescence of ZnTe nanocrystals was studied at room temperature.
► The defect formation and impurity incorporation in ZnTe are sensitive to temperature.
► ZnTe nanocrystals generate the emissions related to the complex defects and isoelectronic traps.