Structural, phosphorescence, thermal, and dielectric properties of SrAl4O7: Eu3+ nano phosphors

Abstract

SrAl₄O₇ nano phosphors doped with different weight percentages of europium (1, 3, 5, and 12 wt%) were successfully synthesized using the sol-gel method. The phase purity of the synthesized samples was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and the average crystallite size increased with an increase in dopant concentration of europium. The band gap value increases with an increase in the dopant concentrations of europium in SrAl₄O_7. The decay kinetics and luminescence spectra of materials doped with Eu³⁺ were strongly concentration-dependent. TG curves show the decomposition of the organic compounds in the precursors together with the evaluation of great amounts of gases and crystallization of SrAl₄O_7. DSC curves show the breakdown of loosely bound organic molecules, the elimination of water molecules, and other surface dangling bonds responsible for the endothermic peaks. The dielectric constant decreases with an increase in frequency. The outcomes of these investigations made the focused materials worthy of applications in energy storage devices, solar cells, and lighting technology.

Graphical Abstract