Photoluminescence of SrTiO3: Influence of Particle Size and Morphology

SrTiO3 crystalline nanoparticles were prepared using the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method at 140 °C with synthesis times varying from 4 to 160 min. Sample characterization showed that the method is effective in obtaining nanoparticles in a relatively short time, which have the highest photoluminescence emission. The crystalline phase of perovskite-type SrTiO3 is not significantly influenced by synthesis time. However, the SrTiO3 phase is already obtained with a 4 min synthesis time. Also, all samples exhibited photoluminescence at room temperature in the blue-green region, where intensity decreased with increasing synthesis time and particle size. The samples synthesized with the shortest time showed higher photoluminescence emission and smaller particle sizes. The morphology obtained based on FE-SEM showed cubic nanoparticles with inhomogeneous grain growth at higher temperatures of synthesis in addition to the formation of new architectures.