PL and ESR Study on UVB-Emitting Gadolinium-Doped BaMgAl10O17 Hexagonal Phase Obtained by Combustion Synthesis

Abstract

A series of Gd3+-doped BaMgAl10O17 phosphors have been successfully synthesized using a low-temperature solution combustion method. The crystal structure and phase purity of the samples were characterized using x-ray powder diffraction analysis. The optimal concentration of Gd3+ dopant in BaMgAl10O17 was determined through measurements of the photoluminescence spectra of the phosphors. All phosphors showed narrowband UVB emission at 313nm with excitation wavelength at 272 nm. Relatively dominant electron spin resonance (ESR) lines were observed with g(eff) approximate to 1.98. 2.7, 4.2, and 5.95 in phosphors with low concentration of dopant Gd3+ ion. At higher dopant concentrations, the spectrum appeared to be U-like with prominent lines at g(eff) approximate to 1.99, 2.7, 4.2, and 5.94. Distortions in the neighborhood of Gd3+ ion led to ESR lines in the low-field region of the spectrum.