Low temperature synthesis of Zn2GeO4 nanorods and their photoluminescence

Zn2GeO4 nanorods were synthesized using a simple reflux method. The product with 0.05 M Zn2GeO4 is an aggregation of short nanorods with the diameter ranging from 30 to 50 nm. If the Zn2GeO4 molarity was increased, the nanorods became longer and aggregated as bundles. An intense white-bluish photoluminescence (PL) was observed from these nanorods, and the PL band can be dissolved into four Gaussian peaks that are associated with the native defects. Since the PL intensity of the nanorods is comparable to that of sintered particles, this reflux method provides a time- and energy-efficient route to prepare Zn2GeO4 phosphor. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.