Sol-gel synthesis, characterization and luminescence properties of SrMgAl2SiO7:Eu2+ as a novel nanocrystalline phosphor

In this research, a new SrMgAl2SiO7:Eu2+ phosphor was synthesized via the solgel method. The phase-forming processes were studied by thermogravimetricdifferential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction technique. Scanning electron microscopy showed that there is uniform morphology and microstructure owing to the solgel route. Spectrophotometry and colorimetry analyses illustrated that, under short ultraviolet excitation, the main emission peak occurred at 421 nm and also a relatively pure blue color was observed that was ascribed to the 4f(6)5d(1)(D-2) -> 4f(7)(S-8(7/2)) transition of Eu2+ with color coordination of x = 0.187, y = 0.077. Finally, it was found that the color and phase purity of the synthesized powder increased as calcinations time increased. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.