Impact of fuel quantity on luminescence properties of Sr₃Al₂O₆:Eu by combustion synthesis

Abstract

The photoluminescent behavior of Eu-doped Sr₃Al₂O₆ obtained by highly efficient solution combustion synthesis is reported. In order to understand the influence of the fuel on the synthesis, the stoichiometric quantity and an excess of fuel were evaluated. By adjusting the amount of fuel, different luminescence responses were obtained, allowing europium cations incorporation into the Sr₃Al₂O₆ lattice to serve as effective luminescence activators in such a short time during the rapid combustion synthesis process. The higher amount of fuel in the presence of the oxidizing agent produced Sr₃Al₂O₆:Eu particles with higher phosphorescence brightness, owing to the increase of the reduction process from Eu³⁺ to Eu²⁺. The synthesized phosphor showed an intense band emission centered at 515 nm and could be excited over a broad spectral range in the UV-visible region. Particles having nanostructured flake-type morphology were obtained, which was considered a micro-nanofunctional candidate for practical applications.

Keywords:
combustion; aluminate; luminescence