Luminescent Properties of ZnS:Eu2+ Nanocrystals

Abstract

Europium-activated ZnS nanocrystals were synthesized by a low temperature tartaric acid assisted sol-gel method. The emission peak of Eu2+ due to the 4f65d1 →4f 7 transitions at 480nm was observed in the emission spectra on excitation at 260nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations were carried out to understand surface morphological features and the particle size of the nanocrystals. The uniformity of phase of Eu2+ doped ZnS nanocrystals was checked by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. In addition, the dependence of the luminescence intensity on Eu2+ concentrations of the nanocrystals has also been discussed. The particle size of the nanocrystals was found to be 28nm.