Interface/defect-tuneable macro and micro photoluminescence behaviours of trivalent europium ions in electrospun ZrO₂/ZnO porous nanobelts

It was demonstrated that suitable interfaces between two materials can enhance the separation of photogenerated carriers. In this study, ZrO₂/ZnO interfaces with type I structure were designed and prepared by the electrospinning technique. The obtained ZrO₂/ZnO:Eu³⁺ (ZZOE) composites are highly porous in the form of nanobelts with width of 600-700 nm, comprising ZnO and ZrO₂ nanocrystals, and the Eu doping can hinder the t-m phase transition of ZrO₂. By tuning the annealing temperature, the inner stress and defects can be well controlled to improve the photoluminescence (PL) of the ZZOE porous nanobelts. Macro- and micro-PL spectra indicated that the body oxygen vacancies benefit the PL from Eu³⁺ ions, whereas the surficial ones do not. The optimal parameters for the preparation of ZZOE porous nanobelts were also investigated. Finally, a charge transfer mechanism was proposed to illuminate the PLs from the ZZOE porous nanobelts.