Luminescence from ZnO/MgO nanoparticle structures prepared by solution techniques

The optical and structural properties of mixed ZnO/MgO particles prepared by solution techniques are investigated by the cathodoluminescence and electron microscopy techniques. The samples annealed at 400–1000 °C show well crystalline wurtzite structure of the ZnO (MgZnO) particles with the size in range of 10–100 nm. Annealing at high temperatures (>700 °C) leads to Mg diffusion in ZnO and MgxZn1−xO alloy formation. The blue shifts of the near-band-edge emission as a result of the alloy band gap widening and quantum confinement effect for the small size particles are demonstrated.