Structure and optical properties of cnx–Ni and CNx–EuCl3 core/shell nanostructured films

Abstract

The structural and optical properties of carbon nitride films doped with nickel or europium have been investigated. All films have been manufactured by the original reactive dc magnetron sputtering method with high pressure of the buffer gas and low energy plasma. It was shown that the formation or disintegration of the core (metal)-shell (carbon) structures in the Ni-C-N films can be achieved under some growth conditions. It was found that luminescent properties of the C-N-Eu films are strongly affected by the basic morphology of C-N films. Particularly the fullerene-like CNx: EuCl3 film demonstrates high luminescence efficiency at 620 nm band and Eu3+ concentration 4.5 at.%.