Combustion synthesis and luminescent properties of Eu 3+-doped LnAlO 3 (Ln = Y and Gd) phosphors

Abstract

A different route for the synthesis of Eu 3+-activated matrices such as YAlO 3 and GdAlO 3 and their luminescent properties were investigated. The new route (combustion method) consists of the redox reactions between the respective metal nitrates and glycine in a preheated furnace at 500 °C. The phosphors thus obtained were fired at 1000 °C for 3 h to get better luminescent properties. The incorporation of Eu 3+ activator in these phosphors was checked by luminescence investigations. It was found that under UV excitation with a wavelength of 254 nm the phosphors revealed reddish orange color. The main peak in the emission spectra was attributed to the 5D 0– 7F 2 (at 608 nm in case of YAlO 3:Eu 3+ and at 615 nm in case of GdAlO 3:Eu 3+) electric-dipole transitions of Eu 3+ ions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies were carried out to understand surface morphological features and the particle size. Crystal structures of the phosphors were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique.