Pechini's solution as precursor for Eu(III)-containing ZnO films

The flat-panel-display's (FPD) market and demand for highly efficient and colored luminescent films have been growing quickly. In this work, thin films were obtained from Pechini's solution by dip-coating. The green films were thermally treated at 873 K in order to get ZnO:Eu 1 at% thin film. A Schott(R) glass plate hydrothermally treated was used as substrate. The films have a mosaic shaped feature that was observed by optical microscopy. That feature is a result of substrate thermal treatment. The film deposition decreases the substrate transmittance in the visible range. When the F-7(0) -->L-5(6) (392nm) Eu3+ transition is excited, it is possible to detect emission from D-5(0) --> F-7(J) (J = 1, 2, 3 and 4) transitions. The D-5(0) --> F-7(2) transition is also observed by using ZnO excitation wavelengths indicating energy transfer from ZnO to Eu3+ ion. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. (USA). All rights reserved.