Gas sensitive luminescence of ZnO coatings obtained by plazma electrolytic oxidation

•We prepare ZnO nanograined coatings using plasma electrolytic oxidation method.•We examine the luminescence spectra, intensity and decay times on defect luminescence band.•We show that the luminescence intensity of obtained coatings were sensitive to ambient atmosphere.

The ZnO coatings on Zn substrate were obtained using plasma electrolytic oxidation method. The XRD and SEM methods were used for structural and morphological characterization of obtained coatings. The luminescence of ZnO coatings were studied and compared with luminescence characteristics of ZnO single crystal. It is shown that luminescence intensity in ZnO defect band depends on oxygen concentration in ambient atmosphere. The effect is of interest for oxygen sensing based on ZnO coating luminescence.