Combustion Synthesis and Photoluminescence Characteristics of Y1-xCaAl3O7:xEu(3+) Nanoparticles

Europium-activated CaYAlO4:Eu3+ nanocrystals were synthesized by the combustion method using an aqueous concentrated paste of calculated amounts of metal nitrates and urea as organic fuel. Comparing with traditional material processing techniques, the combustion method is a relatively simple method. The nanocrystals obtained through the combustion method were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The PL spectra of the prepared nanocrystals shows a predominant red colour under an ultraviolet source, which is attributed to the [D-5(0) -> F-7(2)] transitions of Eu3+ ions at 612 nm. In addition, the effect of heat treatment on the size of the nanocrystals and the dependence of the PL intensity on the Eu3+ concentration has also been discussed. The as-synthesized nanophosphors have very small crystallite sizes range from 50 to 70 nm.