Preparation and luminescent characteristic of Li3NbO4 nanophosphor

Synthesis and luminescence properties of Li3NbO4 oxides by the sol–gel process were investigated. The products were characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and absorption spectra. The PL spectra excited at 247 nm have a broad and strong blue emission band maximum at 376 nm, corresponding to the self-activated luminescence of the niobate octahedra group [NbO6]7−. The optical absorption spectra of the samples sintered at temperatures of 600 and 700 °C exhibited the band-gap energies of 4.0 and 4.08 eV.