Blue emitting Ce3+-doped CaYAl3O7 phosphors prepared by combustion route

Abstract

The solution-combustion route was used to synthesize series of Ce3+-ion-activated CaYAl3O7 (CYO) blue-light-emitting phosphors. Formation of the tetragonal CYO structure was confirmed by the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. On substitution of Ce3+ ion to Ca site in CaYAl3O7 system, the photoluminescence spectra recorded at ultraviolet-light (360 nm) excitation. Photoluminescence excitation spectra at 360 nm showed the characteristic emission at 434 nm of the Ce3+ ion caused by 5d → 4f transitions. Increase in intensity can be seen up to 1 mol % of Ce3+ followed by quenching due to dipole-dipole interaction. The Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE - 1931) coordinates x = 0.1484 and y = 0.0987 of this phosphor are in the violet–blue region. The blue-color purity was found to be maximum 90% for 1 mol% Ce3+-doped phosphor. The obtained CIE, CCT, and color-purity results illustrate the potentiality of Ce3+-activated CYO phosphor for household-lighting and display-device applications.