Non-aqueous sol-gel synthesis of hybrid rare-earth-doped γ-Ga2O3 nanoparticles with multiple organic-inorganic-ionic light-emission features

We present a novel strategy for the synthesis of pure and Eu-doped γ-Ga2O3 nanoparticles with an in situ organic capping resulting from a non-aqueous solution-based benzyl alcohol synthesis route. Photoluminescence spectroscopy highlights the concomitant benzoate related and γ-Ga2O3 exciton-like Eu3+ excitations in the UV, and a blue emission superimposed onto γ-Ga2O3 donor–acceptor recombination, ascribable to organic moieties different from benzoate.