Fluorescence Properties of Nd3+-Doped KNbO3 Nano-Phosphors

Abstract

Nd3+-doped potassium niobate (K(1-x)NbO3:Nd3+x (x = 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07)) polycrystalline powder nano-phosphors were prepared by the conventional solid state reaction method and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence measurements. The XRD data has shown single phase orthorhombic structure for x = 0.01 and 0.03 moles of Nd3+ ion concentrations while an additional NdNbO4 phase is observed at higher concentrations of Nd3+ ions. The photoluminescence spectrum has shown an intense emission at 1061 nm along with two low intense emission bands at 883 and 1343 nm when the samples were excited with 514.5 nm radiation of an Ar+ ion laser. No drastic changes of intensity of emissions are observed with concentration variation, except changes in crystal-fields peak intensities.