Papers by Author: Larisa Grigorjeva

Abstract: Time-resolved luminescence characteristics have been studied for cerium doped YAG nanopowders (NP) and nanostructured ceramics (NC). The results obtained have been compared to the luminescence characteristics for the well studied YAG:Ce3+ single crystal (SC). It was detected that the luminescence decay kinetics of Ce3+ related emission in nanocrystals can be closely approximated by two exponents, whereas a single exponential decay was observed in the single crystal. It was also found that the luminescence decay time and light yield of Ce3+ emission are strongly dependent on the cerium concentration and an unusual concentration quenching of Ce3+ emission was observed in YAG nanocrystals. The origin of the differences of luminescence characteristics for cerium doped nanocrystals and SC are discussed. It is suggested that there are special Ce3+ sites which are closely related to the surface states and that they have a strong influence on the luminescence properties of cerium doped YAG nanocrystals.

Abstract: Microwave driven hydrothermal synthesis and hydrothermal synthesis were used to obtain ZrO2 nanopowders. Their production with varying phase composition, the characterisation and selected optical properties concerning their potential use as luminescence oxygen sensors are reported. It was found that the powders obtained by the microwave driven hydrothermal method and annealed at 750 0C in air show experiment repeatability within an accuracy of 6 %.

Abstract: ZnO nanocrystals were synthesized and characterized by XRD and SEM methods. The luminescence spectra and decay kinetics were studied under pulsed laser excitation (266 nm, 8 ns). ZnO and ZnO:Al powders were prepared by sol-gel and plasma chemical synthesis. These powders were used as a raw material for the SPVD (Solar Physical Vapour Deposition) process. In this way, the vaporisation-condensation phenomenon (VC) led to the formation of ZnO whiskers and nanopowders. The luminescence properties of the VC nanopowders were studied and compared to those displayed by the raw material. The Al dopant, present in the raw powders as a solid solution and ZnAl2O4 precipitates, was only present as Al ions in the nanopowders after the SPVD. The blue luminescence intensity increased considerably after SPVD. The whiskers type microstructures showed nonlinear blue luminescence dependent on the excitation pulse density.

Abstract: Time-resolved luminescence and Furje Transformation Infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy for ZnO nanocrystals prepared under different chemical reactions using microwave driven hydrothermal process was studied. OH- group stretching vibration frequency is considerably different in nanocrystals studied and in single ZnO crystal. It is shown that fractions of chemicals used in synthesis process could be found in nanopowders. Luminescence at ~2.0 eV (due to defect states in ZnO crystals and nanopowders) was suppressed in nanopowders obtained by urea method.

Abstract: The luminescence of nanocrystalline tetragonal and cubic ZrO2 has been investigated. The tetragonal undoped ZrO2 revealed two luminescence bands, at ~2.0 eV and 2.7 eV , but only one band at ~2.7 eV was observed from cubic ZrO2. This luminescence was shown to be intrinsic. The regular zirconium-oxygen complex excited state is suggested as being responsible for intrinsic luminescence.