Spherical porous ZnAl2O4:Eu3+ phosphors: PEG-assisted hydrothermal growth and photoluminescence

Spherical porous Eu3+-doped ZnAl2O4 phosphors have been prepared by post-annealing the sample at 800 degrees C for 3 h, which was firstly obtained via a simple PEG-assisted hydrothermal route. The as-prepared ZnAl2O4:Eu3+ phosphors were well characterized by means of XRPD, FESEM, TEM, HRTEM, N-2 adsorption and desorption and PL techniques. The experimental results reveal that the amount of PEG 2000 in solution plays the crucial role in the formation of spherical porous ZnAl2O4:Eu3+ phosphors. The N-2 adsorption and desorption data reveal the mesoporous property of ZnAl2O4:Eu3+ phosphors, having the high surface area of 40.02 m(2) g(-1). The photoluminescent excitation and emission spectra illustrate the red-emitting property of ZnAl2O4:Eu3+ phosphors owing to the characteristic transitions of Eu3+ from D-5(o) -> F-7(j) (j = 0, 1, 2. 3, and 4). (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.