Reddish - orange Ca 3 x Al 2 O 6 : x Eu 3 þ nanophosphors : Fast synthesis and photophysical properties

This paper focuses on the synthesis and the photoluminescent properties of Ca3 xAl2O6:xEu 3þ (0rxr0.1) nanophosphors prepared by microwave-assisted combustion method without any further heat treatment. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to characterize the produced samples. Nanosized particles smaller than 120 nmwere obtained as confirmed by SEM. When exposed to UV light radiation at 254 nm, the europium-doped nanoparticles showed strong reddish-orange luminescence due to the characteristic transitions D0-F1 (orange) and D0-F2, (red). The maximum emission intensity of the visible emission was obtained for x1⁄40.05. It was also found that higher doping concentrations led to the luminescence quenching by a cross-relaxation mechanism between Eu3þ ions in the lattice. & 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.