Spectral characterization of long-lived luminescence in h-BN nanopowder under UV excitation

Abstract Long-lasting luminescence in excited solid-state composites is of considerable interest as an inner light source for perspective materials capable to generate self-induced photoactivity after external irradiation turn-off. The corresponding slow ultraviolet (UV) and visible (Vis) emissions in hexagonal boron nitride can be caused by technology induced impurities (oxygen, carbon etc.) which form the complex system of electron and/or hole capturing levels within the energy gap. As result the created charge traps substantially influence on functional properties and optoelectronic characteristics of developed heterostructures based on h-BN. In this paper we study the photoluminescence (PL) peculiarities of nanostructured crystalline h-BN powder with C and O content