Combustion synthesis and luminescent properties of Eu^3+-doped LnAlO3 (Ln = Y and Gd) phosphors

A different route for the synthesis of Eu^3+-activated matrices such as YAlO3 and GdAlO3 and their luminescent properties were investigated. The new route (combustion method) consists of the redox reactions between the respective metal nitrates and glycine in a preheated furnace at 500 °C. The phosphors thus obtained were fired at 1000 °C for 3 h to get better luminescent properties. The incorporation of Eu3+ activator in these phosphors was checked by luminescence investigations. It was found that under UV excitation with a wavelength of 254 nm the phosphors revealed reddish orange color. The main peak in the emission spectra was attributed to the 5D0–^7F2 (at 608 nm in case of YAlO3:Eu^3+ and at 615 nm in case of GdAlO3:Eu^3+) electric-dipole transitions of Eu^3+ ions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies were carried out to understand surface morphological features and the particle size. Crystal structures of the phosphors were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique.