Synthesis and characterization of erbium-doped YAlO3 phosphor

In the yttrium aluminium system, the YAlO3 phosphor is a prominent host because of the yttrium aluminium ratio (1:1). Phosphor was synthesized by the solid-state reaction method at variable concentrations of erbium (0.1-2.5mol%). This method is suitable for large-scale production and is a less time-consuming method when compared with the soft synthesis method. The prepared sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction technique and the crystallite size was calculated by Scherer's formula. Vibrational and bending analysis of prepared phosphor for optimized concentration of erbium ion is described based on the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic technique. The photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra of prepared phosphor for variable concentrations of erbium ion were recorded and the excitation spectrum was found to be at 291nm with three shoulder peaks at 305, 270 and 242nm. For 291nm excitation, the emission spectrum was found at 546nm and 552nm. PL intensity increased with increasing concentrations of erbium and after 2mol% emission intensity decreased due to concentration quenching. Spectrophotometric determination of YAlO3:Er3+ is described by CIE co-ordinates and shows an intense emission in the green region such that the prepared phosphor can act as a single host for green light emission. Thermoluminescence glow curve analysis of the YAlO3:Er3+ phosphor was recorded for different ultraviolet (UV) light exposures and gamma exposure. Different gamma doses 0.5-2kGy show a linear response. Kinetic parameters were calculated by the peak shape method. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.