Enhancement of optical properties and donor-related emissions in Y-doped ZnO

The Zn1−xYxO nanoparticles with good optical properties have been prepared by sol–gel method. The yttrium doping effect on the structures and optical properties were investigated by XRD, SEM, XPS and low temperature photoluminescence. The UV emission intensity of yttrium doped ZnO was over 300 times stronger than that of pure ZnO, which was an exciting result in enhancing the ultraviolet near band edge emission in photoluminescence from ZnO nanoparticles. The UV emission band of doped ZnO nanoparticles exhibits a red shift from 388 to 398 nm, indicating a shallow energy level near valence band has been formed due to the yttrium doping into ZnO lattices. The defect-related band is suppressed (ID/IUV = 1–0.83) considerably in Zn1−xYxO nanoparticles, revealing the quenching of the broad yellow-orange emission. The doping effect on the optical properties is investigated by temperature dependent photoluminescence. The experimental results indicated that the donor level of yttrium is deeper than that of undoped ZnO.

► We provide an experimental method to modified photoluminescence properties of ZnO by the introduction of yttrium dopant.
► The UV emission intensity of yttrium doped ZnO was over 300 times stronger than the pure ZnO.
► The donor level of yttrium is deeper than that of undoped ZnO.
► A shallow energy level near valence band has been formed due to the yttrium doping into ZnO lattices.