Synthesis, characterization and luminescent properties of Eu/Tb-doped LaSrAl3O7 nanophosphors

The synthesis of LaSrAl3O7 doped with rare earth (RE) ions Eu3+ and Tb3+ by a single-step solution combustion method has been demonstrated in the present investigation. The structural, morphological and luminescent properties were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM and PL spectroscopy. The XRD results suggest that LaSrAl3O7 crystallize in a single phase having tetragonal structure with space group P42(1)m. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis show that the sample is made up of tetragonal particles with the size between 38 and 78 nm. The photoluminescence properties of the samples were investigated by excitation and emission spectra. Under UV excitation (265 nm), LaSrAl3O7: Eu3+ shows dominant peak at 619 nm in addition to other characteristic peaks of Eu3+. Under 233 nm excitation, the characteristic emissions corresponding to D-5(3)-F-7(J) (J = 4-6) and D-5(4)-F-7(J) (J = 3-6) transitions in LaSrAl3O7: Tb3+ nanophosphors are observed. These results indicate that Eu3+ and Tb3+ activated LaSrAl3O7 nanophosphors can be applied for tunable solid state laser materials and plasma display panels. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.