Photoluminescence of ZnO:Eu3+ nanoflowers

The synthesis of ZnO:Eu3+ nanoflowers by a low-temperature hydrothermal route is described. Characterization of the materials was performed by ESEM, XRD and FTIR spectra. The 355 nm excited photoluminescence spectra at 10 K do not indicate the presence of Eu2+ or the ZnO defect states which give rise to green or red broadband emission. Excitation into the ZnO conduction band at low temperature does not give emission from Eu3+. Selective excitation of the Eu3+ emission shows that EU3+ ions occupy a variety of different sites, of which one of them is similar to EU3+ in C-type Eu2O3.