Review of the preparation, characterization, and luminescence properties of Pr3+-doped CaTiO3 phosphors

In this paper we review the luminescence properties of Pr3+-doped CaTiO3 phosphors, the different methods of sample preparation, and characterization of the materials by use of different techniques, for example X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis, and atomic force microscopy. Solid-state, sol-gel (SG), and combustion methods are most often used for preparation. The high calcining temperature of the solid-state method can be reduced by addition of rare earth oxides (lanthanide series) Ln(2)O(3) and Lu2O3. By use of tetra-n-butyl titanates and calcium nitrates as raw material in the modified solid-state method the luminous properties of samples can be optimized at lower sintering temperatures (600 A degrees C) in less time. SG procedures lead to substantial reinforcement of red photoluminescence intensity so can be regarded as the best technique for phosphor preparation.