Bright Blue Photo- and Electroluminescence from Eu2+-Doped GaN/SiO2 Nanocomposites

✍ Scribed by V. Mahalingam; M. Tan; P. Munusamy; J. B. Gilroy; M. Raudsepp; F. C. J. M. van Veggel

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 362 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1616-301X
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.200601236

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

In this article we demonstrate the synthesis of Eu^2+^‐doped GaN/SiO~2~ nanocomposites using a simple solid state reaction and their use in light‐emitting devices. The nanocomposite exhibits a bright blue luminescence when excited in the UV region (quantum yield = 23 %). The origin of the blue emission is attributed to the presence of europium ions in the +2 oxidation state in the GaN/SiO~2~ nanocomposites. Analysis of the EPR spectrum of europium‐doped GaN/SiO~2~ nanocomposites confirms the existence of Eu^2+^ in the nanocomposites. Various control experiments show that the blue emission arises from these europium ions and that the interface of GaN and silica plays a crucial role. The Eu^2+^‐doped GaN/SiO~2~ nanocomposite also exhibits a bright blue electroluminescence. Furthermore, the nanocomposites can be coated with a polymer to tune their dispersibility in organic medium.