Synthesis and photoluminescence study of nanostructured sol-gel Mn(II) doped indium tin oxide films on silica glass

Sol-gel based dip coated Mn(II) doped indium tin oxide (ITO) films were prepared on pure silica glass at 350 °C and 450 °C using the aqueous solutions of In(III), Sn(IV) and Mn(II) salts having atomic ratio of In:Sn:Mn as 84.6:9.4:6.0. Thin films were characterized by XRD, EDX, SEM, AFM, TEM and photoluminescence (PL) studies. Oxygen deficiency in ITO films decreased due to Mn(II) doping. Quantum confinement of electron-hole pairs occurred in nanocrystals of Mn(II) doped ITO of average size range from 4.7 nm to 6.4 nm. Excitonic transitions and PL behaviours have been illustrated to focus quantum confinement and exciton-phonon interaction.

Graphical abstractAtomic force microscopic image of sol-gel based Mn(II) doped ITO film reveals nanostrustured feature. The nanocluster size increased with temperature. Quantum confinement effect of electron-hole pair (exciton) occurs in the nanosystem. Excitonic transition energy varies with cluster size. Photoluminescence behaviour revealed phonon assisted excitonic transitions.Download full-size image