Room temperature photoluminescence of the Li2ZnTi3O8 spinel:: Experimental and theoretical study

This article describes the characterization of intense photoluminescence observed at room temperature of the Li2ZnTi3O8, spinel phase, obtained by the polymeric precursor method. The evolution of visible photoluminescence is demonstrated by measurement of the photoluminescence signal as a function of the annealing treatment time. The evolution indicates that PL can be attributed to the presence of an inorganic disordered phase. In addition, increased annealing treatment times cause not only a decrease in the total residual content of organic material in the samples, but also an intensified photoluminescence. We discuss the nature of visible photoluminescence at room temperature of the Li2ZnTi3O8 spinel phase in the light of results of both recent experimental and quantum mechanical theoretical studies. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.