Synthesis and Photoluminescence Studies of Eu3+-Activated Ca3Al2O6 Phosphor

Abstract

The present paper reports the synthesis and photoluminescence (PL) properties of Eu³⁺-activated calcium aluminate (Ca₃Al₂O₆) phosphors. The samples were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method with different concentrations of Eu³⁺ ions, which was most suitable for large-scale production. The prepared phosphor sample was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), PL, and CIE chromaticity coordinate techniques. The XRD pattern indicated that the sample was mono-phased and crystallizes in a cubic structure. The crystallite size was found to be nearly 82 nm and the SEM images showed the formation of micro-rods at low resolution and at high resolution exhibited a cube-like morphology. The FTIR studies confirmed the formation of Ca₃Al₂O₆:Eu³⁺ phosphor. The PL excitation spectra found at 271 and 396 nm and the PL emission were observed in the range 500-750 nm for the Ca₃Al₂O₆ phosphor doped with Eu³⁺ ions and sharp peaks were found at 595, 616, 621, and 651 nm with high intensity. The present phosphor can act as a single host for red-orange light emission in display devices.