Combustion synthesis and photoluminescence of Tb3+ doped LaAlO3 nanophosphors

Terbium doped lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO3) nanophosphors were successfully synthesized by a combustion process using concentrated solution of lanthanum nitrates and aluminate as oxidiser, and glycine acid as fuel. The powders were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy. Pure LaAlO3 phase was obtained at 800 degrees C heated for 4 h, without formation of any intermediate phase, with an average crystal size, as determined by TEM, of 60 nm. Intense green emission is reported at 542 nm, from the D-5(4) level, which intensity depends on Tb concentration. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.