Reddish-orange light emission via combustion synthesized Ba3Y4O9: Sm3+ nanocrystalline phosphor upon near ultraviolet excitation

A highly efficient solution combustion technique involving simple procedure and less energy consumption was adopted to prepare a homogeneous crystalline Ba3Y4O9:Sm3+ down-conversion nanophosphor emitting bright reddish orange light. The structural features of the synthesized nanophosphors were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), selected area energy diffraction (SAED) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) techniques. Moreover, the photoluminescent features of the nanocrystalline phosphors were described by photoluminescence decay curves, excitation and emission spectra. Upon near-ultraviolet (NUV) excitation (410 nm), the emission spectra demonstrate the most prominent peak at 607 nm due to 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 transition. The optimum mol% of dopant (Sm3+) ion for doping in this particular host matrix was found to be 3; thus, a concentration quenching (CQ) phenomenon was observed beyond x = 0.03 in the synthesized Ba3Y4(1-x)O9: 4x Sm3+ nanophosphors. The most appropriate reason for CQ mechanism was reckoned to be radiative-reabsorption phenomenon and dipole-dipole (d-d) interactions. The CIE chromaticity coordinates for the optimum nanophosphor were found to lie in orange-red region that confirm its characteristic light emission. The results indicate the promising applications of the synthesized reddish-orange light emitting Ba3Y4O9: Sm3+ nanophosphor in white light emitting diodes (WLEDs). [Display omitted] •Ba3Y4O9:Sm3+ nanophosphors are prepared via solution combustion synthesis (SCS).•SEM, TEM, HRTEM, SAED characterizations are done to explore morphology aspects.•EDAX study revealed the elemental analysis in the prepared optimum nanophosphor.•The detailed crystal structure and photoluminescence study is done successfully.