Photoluminescence of Al2O3 nanocrystals induced by compressive stress

This manuscript presents a study on the growth stress of Al2O3 nanocrystals in Lu2O3 matrix and its resultant effect on the optical properties of Al2O3 nanocrystals. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy study reveals the complete isolation of Al2O3 nanocrystals embedded in Lu2O3 matrix. Two dimensional finite element calculations clearly demonstrate that Al2O3 nanocrystals certainly experience great compressive stress in Lu2O3 matrix. This may lead to a great deal of defects formed around or inside Al2O3 nanocrystals to relax the compressive stress incurred by Al2O3 nanocrystals, leading to the photoluminescence emission observed.