Structural, spectroscopic and optical analysis of green-glowing BaLaAlO4:Er3+ nanomaterials for photonic applications

[Display omitted] •New green-glowing BaLaAlO4:Er3+ nanocrystalline phosphors are fabricated via solution combustion approach.•Crystal lattice factors and refinement parameters are depicted by Rietveld Refinement Technique.•Energy band gap and decay lifetime have been calculated.•Potential candidate for solid state lighting, display, laser and photovoltaic devices. New alluring features of green-glowing BaLaAlO4:Er3+ nanomaterials fabricated via facile solution combustion method, have been discussed. Crystallographic data was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. When excited by 379 nm near ultraviolet (NUV) light, the phosphors exhibited vivid-green luminescence (548 nm). Emission intensity reached maximum at 2.0 mol% amount of Er3+ ions, above which luminescence was quenched via d-d (dipole–dipole) interrelations. Lastly, color coordinates of nanopowders (0.211, 0.402) resided in green region & corresponded to standard EBU coordinates, which endorsed them a promising green-glowing component in the innovative photonic devices i.e., NUV-pumped white-LEDs (light emitting diodes) and photovoltaic cells.