Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

ZnO-doped KCl single crystal with enhanced UV emission lines

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The embedded bulk KCl single crystal with the ZnO nanocrystal was grown using Czochralski technique. Various structural and optical analyses were employed to characterize the grown sample. X-ray diffraction confirmed the diffusion of ZnO NCs in the KCl bulk lattice. The crystal structure and the lattice parameters were estimated for both ZnO NCs and KCl matrix by Rietveld analysis. The bond formation of KCl:ZnO was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FE-SEM was carried out for the morphological study of ZnO NCs and estimation of particle size distributions. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was used to investigate the elemental composition of the prepared sample. The experimental results confirmed the improvement in optical properties of KCl single crystal was found when it was doped by ZnO. The second derivative of absorption spectrum confirmed the band gap of 6.06 eV for KCl single crystal. In PL spectrum, several intense UV light emission peaks at 297 and 360 nm were observed in which the emission peaks of KCl:ZnO samples were very sharp in comparison with the pure KCl single crystal. It seems that the UV peaks at 297 and 360 nm emission lines of ZnO-doped KCl crystals originated from electron capturing from F center.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. C.T. Sun, D.F. Xue, Pulling growth technique towards rare earth single crystals. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 61, 1295–1300 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Y. Yamada, M. Hoyano, K. Oto, Y. Kanemitsu, Effects of impurity doping on photoluminescence properties of APbX3 lead halide perovskites. Phys. Status Solidi B 256, 1800545 (2019)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. J.H. Barbaran, M.S. Ghamsari, I. Javaheri, B. Baharvand, Growth and spectral properties of Ce3+:YAG single crystal. J. Optoelectron. Adv. Mater. 20, 431–434 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  4. M. Soharab, I. Bhaumik, R. Bhatt, A. Saxena, A.K. Karnal, Effect of Nd doping on the refractive index and thermo-optic coefficient of GdVO4 single crystals. Appl. Phys. B 125, 84 (2019)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Y. Niu, Y. Wang, G. Wang, T. Zhang, C. Liu, Enhanced optical linearity and nonlinearity of Nd:YAG crystal embedded with Ag nanoparticles by prior Zn ion implantation. Opt. Mater. Exp. 8, 3666–3675 (2018)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Y. Wang, Y. Niu, G. Wang, Y. Sun, C. Liu, Enhanced nonlinear optical properties of LiNbO3 crystal embedded with CuZn alloy nanoparticles by ion implantation. J. Alloys Compd. 778, 691–698 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  7. A. Lushchik, C. Lushchik, E. Vasil’chenko, Radiation creation of cation defects in alkali halide crystals: review and today’s concept. Low Temp. Phys. 44, 269–277 (2018)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. L. Bouhdjer, S. Addala, A. Chala, O. Halimi, B. Boudine, M. Sebais, Elaboration and characterization of a KCl single crystal doped with nanocrystals of a Sb2O3 semiconductor. J. Semicond. 34, 043001–43004 (2013)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. S. Bangaru, K. Saradha, G. Muralidharan, Thermoluminescence and photoluminescence studies on γ-ray-irradiated Ce3+, Tb3+-doped potassium chloride single crystals. Luminescence 31, 649–653 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Z.J. Chen, H.Y. Xiao, X.T. Zu, First principles study of structural, electronic and optical properties of KCl crystal. Chem. Phys. 330, 1–8 (2006)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. K. Lal, R.V.A. Murthy, S.K. Halder, B.P. Singh, V. Kumar, Growth of nearly perfect alkali halide single crystals by Czochralski method and their characterization. J. Crystal Growth 56, 125–131 (1982)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. C.T. Butler, J.R. Russell, R.B. Quincy, D.E. LaValle, Growth and evaluation of high purity KCl crystals. J. Chem. Phys. 45, 968 (1966)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. J.Z. Damm, M. Iwanicka, J. Trnka, I. Velicka, Distribution of Pb2+ ions in KCl single crystals grown by bridgman method. Kristall und Technik 8, 709–715 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  14. R.C. Bhuniya, E.S. Rao, Colour centres and luminescence in KC1:Ni crystals. Phys. Status Solidi (b) 134, 561–568 (1986)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. F. Samavat, E.H. Ali, S. Solgi, P.T. Ahmad, KCl single crystals growth with Mn, Ag and In impurities by Czochralski method and study of impurities influence on their properties. Open J. Phys. Chem. 2, 185–188 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Yuui Yokota, Shunsuke Kurosawa, Yasuhiro Shoji, Yuji Ohashi, Kei Kamada, A. Yoshikawa, Development of novel growth methods for halide single crystals. Opt. Mater. 65, 46–51 (2017)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Frederico M. Penha, Gustavo P. Zago, Marcelo M. Seckler, Strategies to control product characteristics in simultaneous crystallization of NaCl and KCl from aqueous solution: seeding with KCl. Cryst. Growth Des. 19, 1257–1267 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Frederico M. Penha, Gustavo P. Zago, Yuri N. Nariyoshi, André Bernardo, Marcelo M. Seckler, Simultaneous crystallization of NaCl and KCl from aqueous solution: elementary phenomena and product characterization. Cryst. Growth Des. 18, 1645–1656 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  19. M.H. Tavakoli, T.A. Abasi, E.H. Ali, Growth of KCl crystal by Czochralski method and influence of nanodiamond impurity on its hardness and optical properties. Cryst. Res. Technol. 48, 130–137 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  20. S. Bangaru, G. Muralidharan, Luminescence studies on gamma irradiated KCl: Ce3+ crystals. Phys. B 407, 2185–2189 (2012)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. D.J. Daniel, P. Ramasamy, U. Madhusoodanan, Optical properties and irradiation effects of Cu+ and Eu2+ doped alkali halide single crystals grown from melt using Czochralski technique. Optik 124, 1466–1468 (2013)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. S. Kumar, N. Sinha, S. Bhukkal, B. Kumar, Growth of pure and BFO doped KCl crystals by Czochralski technique and fabrication of microstrip patch antenna for GHz applications. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 30, 2118–2126 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  23. P.P.D. Johnson, F.E. Williams, Electron traps in the thallium activated potassium chloride phosphor. J. Chem. Phys. 21, 125–130 (1953)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. F. Williams, B. Segall, P.D. Johnson, Oscillator strengths for luminescent transitions in KC1: Tl and KC1. Phys. Rev. 108, 46–49 (1957)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. L. Ben-Dor, A. Glasner, S. Zolotov, Colour centres in KCl doped with Zn+2, Cd+2 and Hg+2. Phys. Status Solidi 18, 593–599 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  26. A. Fukuda, Jahn-Teller Effect on the structure of the emission produced by excitation in the A band of KI: Tl-type phosphors. Two kinds of minima on the Γ4–(3T1u) adiabatic potential-energy surface. Phys. Rev. B1, 4161–4178 (1970)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. P.W.M. Jacobs, Alkali halide crystals containing impurity ions with the ns2 ground-state electronic configuration. J. Phys. Chem. Solids 52, 35–67 (1991)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. M. Bacci, F. Mihokova, K. Polak, Coexistence of Jahn-Teller distortions in an Oh symmetry: a general view including the spin-orbit interaction. Phys. Rev. B55, 14257–14264 (1997)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. T. Tsuboil, S. Polosan, V. Topa, The Pb2+ (Li) and Pb2+ (Na) centres in KCl crystals. Phys. Status Solidi B 217, 975–980 (2000)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. F.J. Lopez, Optical absorption and luminescence investigations of the precipitated phases of Eu2+ in NaCl and KCl single crystals. Phys. Rev. B 22, 6428 (1980)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. C. Vijayan, Y. Murti, Ionic thermocurrents due to Z-centres in KCl:Gd2+. Phys. Status Solidi A 105, 397–402 (1988)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. S. Kara, L. Bouhdjer, M. Sebais, O. Halimi, B. Boudine, Elaboration and characterization of a KCl single crystal doped with Er3+. Optik 127, 9264–9268 (2016)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. S. Bangaru, D. Ravi, K Saradha”, Comparison of luminescence property of gamma-ray irradiated Tb3+-doped and Ce3+ co-doped potassium halide single crystals”. Luminescence 32, 358–363 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  34. M. Zhao, A.V. Ikezawa, Y. Fedorov, Shape-dependent confined excitons and acoustic phonons of CuCl nanocrystals embedded in NaCl crystals. J. Lumin. 87–89, 525–527 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  35. F. Samavat, E.H. Ali, S. Shahmaleki, S. Solgi, Growth of KCl1-xBrx mixed crystals with different composition percent and study of KBr concentration effect on optical characteristics of mixed crystals. Adv. Mater. Phys. Chem. 2, 85–89 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  36. B. Boudine, M. Sebais, O. Halimi, R. Mouras, A. Boudrioua, P. Bourson, Characterization of CdS nanocrystals embedded in KCl single crystal matrix grown by Czochralski method. Opt. Mater. 25, 373–377 (2004)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Z. Zehani, H. Zaioune, X-ray diffraction of AuCl semiconductor nanocrystals embedded in NaCl single crystal grown by Czochralski method. Acta Phys Pol, A 123, 312–313 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  38. L. Bouhdjer, S. Addala, A.B. Chala, O. Halimi, B. Boudine, M. Sebais, S. Kara, Structural and optical properties of CdSe doped KCl single crystal. J. New Technol. Mater. 2, 34–37 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  39. L. Bouhdjer, S. Addala, O. Halimi, M. Sebais, B. Boudine, CuO nanocrystals embedded in KBr single crystal: elaboration and characterization. Optik 145, 99–105 (2017)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Y. Harada, H. Kondo, N. Ichimura, S. Hashimoto, Sample preparation and photoluminescence of ZnO particles embedded in thin alkali halide crystals. Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 38, L1318–L1320 (1999)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Y. Harada, H. Kondo, N. Ichimura, S. Hashimoto, Photoluminescence spectra of ZnO particles embedded in thin alkali halide crystals. J. Lumin. 87–89, 405–407 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  42. T. Ota, S. Sasa, Y. Harada, S. Hashimoto, Optical properties of single micron-sized ZnO particles embedded in alkali halide crystals studied by cathodoluminescence. Phys. Status Solidi B 229, 815–818 (2002)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. V.L. Cherginets, On studies of oxide solubilities in melts based on alkaline halides. Electrochim. Acta 42, 3619–3627 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Robert F. Watson, George S. Perry, Solubility of ZnO and hydrolysis of ZnCl2 in KCl melts. J. Chem. Soc Faraday Trans. 87, 2955–2960 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  45. F.I.H. Rhouma, F. Belkhiria, E. Bouzaiene, M. Daoudi, K. Taibi, J. Dhahri, R. Chtourou, The structure and photoluminescence of a ZnO phosphor synthesized by the sol gel method under praseodymium doping. RSC Adv. 9, 5206–5217 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  46. M.S. Ghamsari, S. Alamdari, D. Razzaghi, M.A. Pirlar, ZnO nanocrystals with narrow-band blue emission. J. Lumin. 205, 508–518 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  47. R.G. Snyder, J. Kumamoto, J.A. Ibers, Vibrational spectrum of crystalline potassium hydroxide. J. Chem. Phys. 33, 1171–1177 (1960)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. L. Grigorjeva, D. Millers, W. Lojkowski, T. Strachowski, Luminescence and FTIR spectroscopy of ZnO nanocrystals. Mater Sci. Forum 514-516, 1230–1234 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  49. K. Hedayati, Fabrication and optical characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles prepared via a simple sol–gel method. J. Nanostruct. 5, 395–401 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  50. L. Marculescu, C. Ghiţa, On the luminescence of KCl:Pb and KBr:Pb crystals. Phys. Status Solidi B 75, 375–379 (1976)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. R.C. Bhuniya, S.E. Rao, Colour centres and luminescence in KCl:Zn crystals. Phys. Status Solidi B 131, 339–348 (1985)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. M. Ikeya, N. Itoh, T. Okada, T. Suita, Study of the enhancement of X-ray coloration of NaCl by divalent impurities. J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 21, 1304–1309 (1966)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  53. B.V.R. Chowdari, N. Itoh, X-ray coloration of Eu2+-doped KCl. Phys. Status Solidi (b) 46, 549–557 (1971)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  54. K.J. Kao, M.M. Perlman, X-ray effects on cation impurity-vacancy pairs in KCl:Eu2+. Phys. Rev. B 19, 1196–1202 (1979)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  55. J.O. Rubio, M.G. Aguilar, F.J. Lopez, M. Galan, J. Garcia-Sole, H.S. Murrieta, Effects of X-irradiation in europium-doped NaCl. J. Phys. C: Solid State Phys. 15, 6113–6128 (1982)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  56. M. Willander, O. Nur, J.R. Sadaf, M.I. Qadir, S. Zaman, A. Zainelabdin, N. Bano, I. Hussain, Luminescence from zinc oxide nanostructures and polymers and their hybrid devices. Materials 3, 2643–2667 (2010)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  57. R. Florian, L.O. Schwan, D. Schmid, Time-resolving experiments on Dicke superfluorescence of O2 − centers in KCl two-color superfluorescence. Phys. Rev. A 29, 2709–2715 (1984)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to research laboratory of crystal growth, Department of Physics, Semnan University for providing the essential equipment, furnace and platinum crucible and platinum wire.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

    M. Shiehpour, S. Solgi & M. Jafar Tafreshi

  2. Photonics and Quantum Technologies Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, 11155-3486, Tehran, Iran

    M. Sasani Ghamsari

Authors
  1. M. Shiehpour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Solgi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Jafar Tafreshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Sasani Ghamsari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Jafar Tafreshi.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shiehpour, M., Solgi, S., Tafreshi, M.J. et al. ZnO-doped KCl single crystal with enhanced UV emission lines. Appl. Phys. A 125, 531 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-019-2846-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-019-2846-8

Search

Navigation