The photoluminescence properties of zinc oxide nanofibres prepared by electrospinning

Abstract

The morphology and optical properties of zinc oxide fibres with diameters in the nanometre to micrometre range are reported. The PVA/zinc acetate organic/inorganic hybrid nanofibres were successfully prepared by electrospinning using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and zinc acetate. Pure zinc oxide fibres were obtained by high-temperature calcination of the hybrid fibres in air. The nanofibres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), x-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The photoluminescence spectra under excitation at 325 nm showed an ultraviolet emission at 3.13 eV and a green emission at 2.21 eV. These nanofibres could be used as light emitting devices in nanoscale optoelectronic applications.