Jorge Gil-Rostra, Francisco J. Ferrer, Inocencio R. Martín, Agustín R. González-Elipe, Francisco Yubero
Journal of Luminescence, 178 (2016) 139-146
doi: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2016.01.034

This paper reports the luminescent behavior of Eu:ZnO thin films prepared by an one-step procedure that combines reactive magnetron sputtering deposition of ZnO with the plasma activated decomposition of a non-volatile acetylacetonate precursor of Eu sublimated in an effusion cell. Chemical composition and microstructure of the Eu:ZnO thin films have been characterized by several methods and their photo-, cathode- and ion-luminescent properties studied as a function of Eu concentration. The high transparency and well controlled optical properties of the films have demonstrated to be ideal for the development of cathode- and ion- luminescence sensors.