Enhancing local luminescence in a hollow ZnO microcolumn by antiresonant reflecting

Abstract

Hollow ZnO microcolumns with size induced photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence properties were prepared by a thermal chemical vapor transport and condensation method. It was found that the luminescence emission could be confined in the nano-sized hollow core and the wavelength dependent light intensity could be influenced by the geometric structure of the ZnO microcolumn, which can act as a hollow optical waveguide. Based on the antiresonant reflection in the optical waveguide, we established a theoretical model to address the field enhancement in the hollow ZnO microcolumn, which systematically clarifies the influence of the geometric structure of the microcolumn on the field enhancement. We report for the first time, the enhanced emission of the near ultraviolet light (working wavelength of 385 nm) along the axial direction of the ZnO microcolumn. The corresponding microsized light emitter has also been obtained. Experiments agree well with both theoretical predictions and computer simulations based on the finite-difference time-domain method with perfectly matched layer boundary conditions. These findings provide valuable information for the application of ZnO micro- and nanostructures in optoelectronic devices.