Structural and photoluminescence of Mn-doped ZnO single-crystalline nanorods grown via solvothermal method

Mn-doped ZnO nanorods (composition: Mn_0.046Zn_0.954O) were grown by a simple solvothermal technique. The morphological, structural and optical properties of the as-prepared nanorods were investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence. The results showed that the sample had rod-like morphology and that the preferential growth direction was along the c-axis. The doping of Mn²⁺ ions has significant influences on the optical properties of ZnO nanorods. Low-temperature photoluminescence spectra of Mn-doped ZnO nanorods exhibit a strong near band-edge emission at 370.8 nm and a weak deep-level emission around 525 nm, indicating the concentrations of the defects responsible for deep-level emissions are reduced on doping. The dynamic process of the UV emission for Mn-doped ZnO nanorods was discussed.