Photoluminescent properties in different gas ambient of ZnO nanopowders doped by Mo and V

Abstract

This study investigated the structural, morphological, and photoluminescent properties of ZnO nanopowders doped with Mo and V, which were synthesized using pulsed laser reactive technology. The nanoparticles’ structure, shape, and size were determined using electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The photoluminescence properties of the Mo- and V-doped ZnO nanopowders in different gas environments were studied, revealing that changes in the gas environment led to significant alterations in the intensity and deformation of the photoluminescence spectra. All samples exhibited strong emission bands in the UV range and a broad, non-elemental emission band in the visible region ranging from 410 to 600 nm. Decomposing the photoluminescence spectra into elementary bands revealed peaks at 430 and 520 nm. Chromaticity diagrams of the photoluminescence light emitted by the nanopowders were obtained, and it was found that the color coordinates varied depending on the gas environment, which could be useful in gas sensors.