AAAR 37th Annual Conference October 14 - October 18, 2019 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
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Electroluminescence Induced by Electric Current through Defects of Cubic Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized by Self-Combustion Method
CHANGHYUK KIM, Peter Pikhitsa, Sukbyung Chae, Kyungil Cho, Mansoo Choi, Pusan National University
Abstract Number: 386 Working Group: Nanoparticles and Materials Synthesis
Abstract Magnesium oxide (MgO) generally has a wide bandgap and no electrical conductivity. However, MgO nanoparticles synthesized through an aerosol method showed electrical conductivity due to the intrinsic defects built in the nanoparticles by the rapid synthesis in the air. Previously, it was reported that the intrinsic defects tuned the optical properties of MgO nanoparticles such as cathodoluminenscence and photoluminenscence (CL and PL), which were not observed from the commercial ones (Sigma-Aldrich Co.). In this study, an electroluminescence (EL) induced by the electric current through the intrinsic defects was observed at room temperature. The MgO nanoparticles were synthesized by the self-combustion of Mg chip in the air. The nanoparticles had cubic shapes and high purity, which were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The electrical conductivity was observed by electron beam absorbed current (EBAC). The EBAC images showed that the electrons emitted from the electron beam of SEM migrated through the edges of the contacting cubic MgO nanoparticles. When the MgO nanoparticles were sandwiched by electrodes and applied with voltage, the electrons migrating through the edges excited excite nitrogen (N2) molecules around, thus showing the EL in the ultraviolet and visible range due to the micro N2 discharge. These electroluminescence was not observed from the commercial MgO nanoparticles (Sigma-Aldrich), which also did not show the CL and PL before. Due to the defect-induced novel properties, the MgO nanoparticles with defects synthesized by the aerosol process are expected to apply for nanooptics, oxide electronics, gas adsorbents, etc.