Nanocrystalline Phosphor with Improved Photoluminescence Properties

This book attempts to establish a versatile and technically simple chemical synthesis technique through the successful preparation of nanocrystalline powders of ZnGa2O4 and Cr3+ doped ZnGa2O4 for phosphor applications. In the developed synthetic method, pyrolysis of aqueous based precursor solution and triethanolamine (TEA) occurs. The precursor solution comprises of water soluble metal ion ligand complexes of the desired metal ions. TEA is used as a chelating agent for obtaining the water soluble metal-ion ligand complexes. The as synthesized powders as well as the powders calcined at their phase formation temperature have been characterized with respect to their crystal structure, phase, particle size and shape, surface morphology and composition along with investigation of their respective photoluminescence properties. The emission spectrum of nanocrystalline ZnGa2O4 has been analyzed using the electronic band structure of the material, available in the literature. The photoluminescence properties of nanocrystalline Cr3+ doped ZnGa2O4 for different concentrations of Cr3+ ion have been investigated.