Synthesis optimization, photoluminescence and thermoluminescence studies of Eu3+ doped calcium aluminozincate phosphor

Calcium aluminozincate phosphor, Ca3Al4ZnO10 (CAZ) doped with Eu3+ has been synthesized using solid-state reaction (SSR), combustion (CS) and sol-gel (SG) methods for relatively improved luminescence performance and to optimize synthesis method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) and PL decay measurements have been recorded for the detailed investigation of the luminescence properties of the as-synthesized phosphor. The thermoluminescence (TL) spectral study has been done to estimate the trap depth of the defect centres. The XRD peaks confirm the complete matching of the diffraction peaks of the as-synthesized sample with the standard data for Ca3Al4ZnO10. The morphology of the sample synthesized via SG method shows agglomerated particles with average particle size smaller than the samples synthesized via CS and SSR method. The detailed investigation shows significant red emission enhancement in Eu3+ doped CAZ phosphor synthesized via SG method. The obtained results suggest that the Eu3+ doped CAZ phosphor synthesized via SG method could be a great choice as red emitter for applications in solid state lighting. •Optimized synthesis technique for calcium aluminozincate (CAZ) phosphors.•Phase confirmation observed in solid-state, combustion and sol-gel method.•Enhancement in red emission under blue excitation for sol-gel synthesized phosphors.•CIE coordinates are close to commercial red phosphor.•Conducted thermoluminescence studies to identify trap centres in CAZ phosphors for the first time.