White-light emitting ZnO-SiO2 nanocomposite thin films prepared by sputtering method

Abstract

ZnO-SiO2 nanocomposite thin films were prepared using RF sputtering method without substrate heating. The photoluminance (PL) measurements showed that the ZnO-SiO2 nanocomposite thin films are able to emit white light consisting of violet, blue, and green-yellow band emissions. The blue emission was attributed to the large amount of ZnO/SiO2 interfaces, which enlarges the depletion layer width and then enhances the related transition. Further analyses indicated that the defect structure of samples could be manipulated by the amount and distribution of ZnO nanoparticles in SiO2 matrix to yield distinct luminescence property.