Zn3(VO4)2 prepared by magnetron sputtering: microstructure and optical property

Zinc vanadium oxide Zn 3 (VO 4 ) 2 has been prepared by means of DC magnetron sputtering and subsequent post heat treatment. The samples were synthesized via two routes: dual-target co-sputtering of ZnO and V 2 O 5 or the ordinal deposition of V 2 O 5 and ZnO thin layers. The obtained precursors were then annealed in oxygen atmosphere from 500 to 550 °C to form the Zn 3 (VO 4 ) 2 compound. Morphology and composition of the samples have been investigated by means of scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction pattern shows the presence of α-Zn 3 (VO 4 ) 2 , ZnO and vanadium oxide in the annealed ZnO–V 2 O 5 samples. Pure V 2 O 5 with two distinct phases, β and γ phases, is found for the samples annealed at 500 °C. Room temperature photoluminescence properties have been studied, and the annealed samples exhibit excellent light emission in the visible region centred at 528 nm from Zn 3 (VO 4 ) 2 compound. The light emission from Zn 3 (VO 4 ) 2 is discussed based on charge transfer and Frank–Condon principles.