Green luminescent ZnO:Cu2+ nanoparticles for their applications in white-light generation from UV LEDs

摘要

Copper doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by a chemical technique based on a hydrothermal method. The crystallite sizes, estimated by XRD and TEM/SEM for different doping percentage of Cu2+ (1–10%), were found to be in the range of ~10–15 nm. TEM/SEM images showed formation of uniform nanorods, the aspect ratio of which varied with doping percentage. Photoluminescence (PL) measurement showed strong green visible emission and PL intensity was found enhanced with increase in doping percentage. The increase in the PL intensity was mainly due to Cu incorporation in ZnO lattice. Currently, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) giving ultraviolet emission have been combined with broad-band visible green phosphors to make white-light LEDs. Thus, green luminescent ZnO:Cu2+ nanoparticles are seen as necessary and condemnatory constituent for white-light generation from UV LEDs, underlying the importance of the current work.