Effect of annealing temperature on the structural and optical properties of Zn1−xMgxO particles prepared by oxalate precursor

Zn1−xMgxO particles were prepared using zinc and magnesium oxalate precursor by co-precipitated method. The lattice constants of Zn1−xMgxO proved that the interstitial Mg formed at 500 °C and Mg replaced Zn in ZnO tetrahedral coordination at 800 °C. Compared with the ZnO, the absorbing band edge of the Zn1−xMgxO displayed blue shifts. The room temperature photoluminescence was similar to ZnO and variation of Mg content did not change the shape or peak position of the emission spectra markedly when it was annealed at 500 °C. However, its blue emission band disappeared, and a relatively strong green light emission at 498 nm appeared after annealed at 800 °C. The photoluminescence intensity ratios I(green)/I(UV) of Zn1−xMgxO varied with Mg content and the green light emission peak shifted from 498 nm to 472 nm when Mg content increased from 0 to 2.0 at.%.