The luminescent properties of CuAlO2

Abstract

In this work we examine the room temperature photoluminescence, Raman and low temperature photoluminescence properties of CuAlO₂ prepared using different precursors. At room temperatures the luminescence associated with bulk CuAlO₂ occurs at 355 nm and is associated with strong resonant Raman effects. At low temperatures we find that the UV emission is dominated by strong electron–phonon coupling leading to a Franck–Condon type emission band. A second strongly phonon coupled band is also observed in the blue spectral region. In addition we also show that at low temperatures the luminescent properties of CuAlO₂ are meta-stable, with anomalous temperature dependence. The possible origins of the blue band, the meta-stability and anomalous temperature dependence are discussed.