Synthesis and photoluminescence of Eu-doped ZnO microrods prepared by hydrothermal method

Eu-doped ZnO microrods, with wurtzite structure and [0 0 0 1] growth direction have been successfully synthesized on Si (1 0 0) substrates by a simple hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), lifetime decay curves, photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra, respectively. These results indicate that Eu3+ ions are located in the distorted lattice sites near the surface of the ZnO microrods. Additionally, it is also suggested that the surface defects may act as a step in the process of energy transfer from ZnO to Eu3+ ions.