Growth and luminescence of Tb-doped ZnO nanocones

•Tb- doped ZnO nanocones are fabricated on silicon substrate using the high-temperature and high-pressure pulsed-laser deposition.•The luminescence properties of Tb- doped ZnO nanocones are studied.•The cathodoluminescence spectra of Tb- doped ZnO nanocones detect two peaks that are from the doped Tb3+ ions, which the doping of Tb plays an important role in improve the luminescence of ZnO nanostructures.

In this paper, Tb-doped ZnO nanocones are fabricated on silicon substrates using the high-temperature and high-pressure pulsed-laser deposition. Tb-doped ZnO nanocones are agave-like and the bottoms of nanocones huddle together. The luminescence properties of Tb-doped ZnO nanocones are characterized. Two peaks at about 543 and 586 nm are identified to be from the doped Tb3+ ions in cathodoluminescence spectrum of sample. It can be concluded that the doping of Tb plays an important role in improve the luminescence property of ZnO nanostructures. The growth mechanism of ZnO nanocones can be explained by vapor–liquid–solid process. The doping of Tb ions in ZnO nanocones is dominated by surface diffusion.