Synthesis and XRD/PL studies of pure and Sb2O3 doped ZnO nanophases

Pure and Sb2O3 (0 to 5% molar fraction) doped ZnO nanophases were synthesized using a sublimation-condensation method in a solar furnace. The initial and final powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. XRD results showed no significant change in the lattice parameters and the presence of a new phase Zn7O2Sb12 in the highly doped micropowders but not in the nanopowders. The photoluminescence spectra showed a strong donor-acceptor pair (DAP) emission in the pure untreated ZnO micropowder which is drastically reduced in pure and doped nanopowders. The donor-bound excitonic band (DX) includes three well resolved peaks in the PL spectra of the doped micropowders while the spectra of doped nanopowders showed a broader band. Furthermore, the free exciton emission was absent in all doped samples.