Luminescence of Nitrogen–Neon Nanoclusters

Abstract The decay dynamics of the $$\alpha$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>α</mml:mi> </mml:math> -group ( $$^2$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mmultiscripts> <mml:mrow/> <mml:mrow/> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mmultiscripts> </mml:math> D $$\rightarrow ^4$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msup> <mml:mo>→</mml:mo> <mml:mn>4</mml:mn> </mml:msup> </mml:math> S transition) of N atoms stabilized in the collection of $$\hbox {N}_2$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mtext>N</mml:mtext> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:msub> </mml:math> –Ne nanoclusters were studied at a temperature of 1.3 K. The variation of the $$\hbox {N}_2$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mtext>N</mml:mtext> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:msub> </mml:math> /Ne ratio in nanoclusters results in substantial changes in the luminescence spectra of the $$\alpha$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>α</mml:mi> </mml:math> -group and in the characteristic decay times for the components of these spectra. In all obtained $$\alpha$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>α</mml:mi> </mml:math> -group spectra, the narrow component at $$\lambda$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>λ</mml:mi> </mml:math> = 519.9 nm was observed. The spectroscopic results provide information about the structure of the nitrogen–neon nanoclusters. At elevated temperatures ( $$\approx$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mo>≈</mml:mo> </mml:math> 15–36 K), enhanced oxygen $$\beta$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>β</mml:mi> </mml:math> -group luminescence is observed in $$\hbox {N}_2$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mtext>N</mml:mtext> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:msub> </mml:math> –Ne nanoclusters, with a smaller intensity enhancement than those observed within pure $$\hbox {N}_2$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mtext>N</mml:mtext> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:msub> </mml:math> and mixed $$\hbox {N}_2$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mtext>N</mml:mtext> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:msub> </mml:math> –Kr nanoclusters. These results confirm the energy transfer mechanism, in which excited nitrogen molecules formed on the nanocluster surface transfer energy to the stabilized oxygen atoms through the chain of $$\hbox {N}_2$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mtext>N</mml:mtext> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:msub> </mml:math> molecules in a solid matrix.