UV emitting Pb2+ doped SrZrO3 phosphors prepared by sol-gel procedure

Abstract

A series of Pb2+-doped SrZrO3 phosphors with a varying Pb2+ concentration has been successfully synthesized using the sol-gel method. The structural, morphological, and luminescence properties along with the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) properties have been investigated in details. The structural analysis was carried out by recording X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, which confirms the pure-phase formation of the synthesized phosphors. The morphological study was performed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) that showed micron-sized particles with irregular morphologies. The photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra were also recorded. The emission intensity shows the maximum at 360 nm that was pumped at 278 nm for SrZrO3:Pb2+. The optimized Pb2+ concentration is 0.015 mol. Investigations of un-doped and Pb2+ doped SrZrO3 phosphor have been carried out using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. Pure SrZrO3 exhibits an axially symmetric EPR line with g||= 1.93 and g⊥= 1.99. These lines are ascribed to Zr3+ ion. Additional lines are not observed in the Pb2+ doped phosphors.