Preparation and photoluminescence properties of aluminate phosphors produced by combustion synthesis

In this work, Eu, Nd co-doped MAl2O4:Eu, Nd (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) phosphors were synthesized at low temperatures (550 °C) by the combustion method. The crystallinity of the phosphors was monitored by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the morphology was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Synthesis of phosphors, the effect of lanthanide concentrations on light emission intensity and duration investigated by using photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Narrow orange-red emissions from 500 to 750 nm in the PL spectra are assigned to 5D0 → 7Fj (j = 0,1,2,3,…) transitions of Eu3+ ion. In contrast, the broad luminescence band of the samples in the range of 400–500 nm are attributed to the 5d-4 f transitions of Eu3+ ion in the same host materials. Investigated the effects of radiation on the severity of the trap depths of these structures. The decay curves of these phosphors show how long the phosphors are attenuated. Thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves have been recorded from room temperature to 300 °C at a constant heating rate of 1 °C/s after preheat process at 130 °C for 10 s using lexsyg smart TL/OSL reader. Nd3+ trap levels can be thought of as the lanthanide element that causes long composition in the phosphorescence structure at room temperature. •MAl2O4:Eu, Nd (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) phosphors were successfully prepared by combustion method.•Thermoluminescence of photoluminescence MAl2O4:Eu, Nd (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) phosphors are reported.•Phosphors shows a suitable candidate for long lasting and persistent phosphors.