The photoluminescence spectra of oxide nanoparticles in the ordered pores of alumina membranes were investigated. An assembly of oxide nanoparticles in porous alumina membranes was synthesized by immersing the membrane in a mixture of zinc butanol and water at 600C, and heating (200C, 4h). The photoluminescence measurements showed that the assembly had a green luminescence band, with the peak position at 485nm. When compared with the photoluminescence spectra of nanostructured bulk ZnO, the luminescence intensity of ZnO nanoparticles in the alumina membrane was found to have an enhancement factor of 20. This luminescence enhancement was attributed to an increase in the numbers of singly-ionised O vacancies (F+ centres) in the ZnO nanoparticles which were located in the pores of the porous alumina membrane.

Photoluminescence of ZnO Nanoparticles in Alumina Membrane with Ordered Pore Arrays. G.Shi, C.M.Mo, W.L.Cai, L.D.Zhang: Solid State Communications, 2000, 115[5], 253-6