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

Zinc vanadium oxide Zn3(VO4)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 V2O5 or the ordinal deposition of V2O5 and ZnO thin layers. The obtained precursors were then annealed in oxygen atmosphere from 500 to 550 °C to form the Zn3(VO4)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-Zn3(VO4)2, ZnO and vanadium oxide in the annealed ZnO–V2O5 samples. Pure V2O5 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 Zn3(VO4)2 compound. The light emission from Zn3(VO4)2 is discussed based on charge transfer and Frank–Condon principles.