Microwave assisted synthesis, photoluminescence and X-ray/gamma ray absoprtion properties of red CaZrO3:Eu3+ perovskite

Nanocrystalline orthorhombic CaZrO3:Eu3+ (1–4 ​mol%) perovskite was synthesized by microwave assisted combustion method. To know the phase purity, functional group, surface morphology, structural analysis and energy band gap, the synthesized sample was characterized by using various techniques. The powder X-ray diffraction analysis clearly confirms the formation of pure orthorhombic phase of CaZrO3:Eu3+ (1–4 ​mol%) nanoparticles. The surface morphology shows the formation of voids and pores which is the characteristic of combustion method. The d-spacings, selected area electron diffraction pattern and the crystallite size obtained from transmission electron microscopic analysis matches well with that of X-ray diffraction pattern.The optical energy band gap determined from Wood and Tauc's relation decreases with decrease in crystallite size and with increase in dopant concentration. The photoluminescence emission excited at 306 ​nm wavelength shows the characteristic peaks of Eu3+ ions. CIE and CCT coordinates clearly shows that CaZrO3:Eu3+ (1–4 ​mol%) nanophosphor is one of the promising candidate for display applications. Further, the interaction of X-ray/gamma radiation with CaZrO3:Eu3+ is also studied. We have reported the X-ray/gamma radiation interaction parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient and other parameters at different energies. The established data may be useful in the fields of radiation protection. Calcium and Zirconium being heavier elements, there is an expectation that, the CZ perovskite might be a good X-ray/gamma ray absorber and hence X-ray/gamma ray interaction parameters are discussed. [Display omitted] •Nanocrystalline orthorhombic CaZrO3:Eu3+ (1–4 ​mol %) perovskite was synthesized by microwave assisted combustion method.•The synthesized sample was characterized by different techniques.•The energy band gap decreases with decrease in crystallite size and increases with increase in dopant concentration.•The PL emission clearly shows that CaZrO3:Eu3+ nanophosphor is one of the promising candidate for display applications.•The interaction of X-ray/gamma radiation with CaZrO3:Eu3+ (1–4 ​mol %) is also studied.