Photoluminescence properties and quantum size effect of ZnO nanoparticles confined inside a faujasite X zeolite matrix

ZnO nanoparticles were grown inside a zeolite matrix by wet chemistry method. Under excitation with an ArF laser (193 nm), a strong blue-shift of the emission band of ZnO, suggesting a strong quantum size effect, is observed. The confinement of ZnO nanoparticles within a zeolite matrix improves the excitons stability.