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Synthesis of Al-doped ZnO nanomaterials with controlled luminescence properties

Robert R. Piticescu 1Roxana M. Piticescu 1Claude J. Monty 3Witold Łojkowski 4Larisa Grigorjeva 2

1. Institute for Non-ferrous and Rare Metals, 102 Biruintei Blvd., Pantelimon 73957, Romania
2. Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, 8 Kengaraga, Riga LV-1063, Latvia
3. Procédés,Matériaux et Energie Solaire (PROMES), Avenue Professeur Trombe, Font-Romeu 66120, France
4. Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of High Pressure Physics (UNIPRESS), Sokolowska 29/37, Warszawa 01-142, Poland

Abstract

Nanocrystalline ceramic and composite materials present a set of highly improved and novel mechanical, electronic, optical, catalytic or bioactive properties over the traditional materials. The implementation and utilisation of these new materials is strongly dependant on the microstructure and surface nanochemistry characteristics investigation and modelling. New processes for the synthesis and sintering are required to be developed to control and optimize the chemical composition, component distribution, crystalline and grain sizes.
Due to the combination of interesting piezoelectric, electric, optical and thermal properties ZnO-doped nanomaterials are of high interest for multifunctional applications in gas sensors, ultrasonic oscillators or transparent electrodes in solar cells. In our paper we present the results on the synthesis of zinc oxide powders with different Al content by two different procedures: hydrothermal route and evaporation-condensation in a solar furnace.
The influence of the synthesis parameters on the chemical and microstructural characteristics of nanophases synthesized in the two methods has been systematically studied using chemical methods, XRD, BET, picnometric density, XPS, SEM and TEM. The first results on the obtaining of bulk ceramics by sintering and thin films by electrophoresis deposition are also presented.
The authors acknowledge the financial support in the frame of the ECO-NET project “Modelling and verification of electrochemical and electronic properties of multifunctional nanomaterials” financed by EGIDE-FRANCE.

 

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Related papers

Presentation: oral at E-MRS Fall Meeting 2005, Laser Ceramic Symposium, by Robert R. Piticescu
See On-line Journal of E-MRS Fall Meeting 2005

Submitted: 2005-05-10 18:21
Revised:   2009-06-07 00:44