Preparation and luminescence properties of SrTiO3:Pr3+,Al3+ phosphor from the glycolate method

Spherical SrTiO3:Pr3+,Al3+ phosphor with high crystallinity and uniform particle size distribution was formed from the glycolate precursor. The glycolate precursor was obtained by heating the mixed solution of metallic nitrates and titanium oxychloride in ethylene glycol up to 200 °C. The thermal decomposition of the glycolate precursor proceeded through three major stages, i.e., (i) evolution of glycols (∼200 °C), (ii) decomposition of glycolate precursor, and (iii) decomposition of strontium carbonate and crystallization of SrTiO3:Pr3+,Al3+ phosphor. SrTiO3:Pr3+,Al3+ phosphor exhibited a strong red emission, peaking at about 617 nm. SrTiO3:Pr3+,Al3+ phosphor obtained from the glycolate complex has higher luminescent properties than the conventional solid state reaction and the Pechini method in terms of photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL). High crystallinity, low residual carbon content and small grain size with uniform shape would enhance the luminescence intensity of phosphor by the glycolate method due to high surface area per unit volume and low organic content compared with the Pechini method. Also, Al3+ ion is more effective than Ga3+ ion to enhance PL intensity of SrTiO3:Pr3+,Al3+ phosphor because of smaller Al3+ ion radius. Therefore, the glycolate method has been demonstrated to be a convenient and unique process for the production of muticomponent oxide with smaller grain size and higher crystallinity compared with the conventional mixed oxide reaction and the polymer precursor method.