Development of Solid-State Derived Strontium Aluminate Based Luminescent Materials

Abstract

This work focuses on the development of solid-state derived strontium aluminate (SrAl12O19) based luminescent materials. Strontium aluminate is considered as one of the phosphor host material and has been widely studied in many fields including luminescence. Now-a-days, strontium aluminate based phosphor materials got much attention due to its excellent applications for example luminescence paints, ceramic and polymer based warning signage as well as decorative materials in display LED light instruments.
In this research work, non-rare earth (Mn, Cu) and rare earth (Ce) doped strontium aluminate (SrAl12O19) based phosphors with different concentrations (0.5, 1, 3, and 5 mol %) of these ions have been synthesised by solid state mixing route. In addition, co-doping of Mn or Cu or Ce having different concentration with a fixed amount of Eu (5 mol %) in strontium aluminate (SrAl12O19) matrix have also been developed using similar process. Different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), UV-visible and photoluminescence (PL) properties have been used to characterize different strontium aluminate (SrAl12O19) based phosphor materials. The results from XRD confirmed the formation of a major phase of SrAl12O19 along with some minor phases such as SrAl2O4 and Al2O3. FESEM analysis resulted plate-like, rod-like morphology along with spherical particles on the surface of the plates for doped and co-doped based SrAl12O19 samples. However, Ce doped and Ce: Eu (5 mol %) co-doped samples shows silver flower-like morphology. Photoluminescence properties of all these materials have been studied using an excitation wavelength of 365 nm. Further, it was observed that the powder colour response (using UV-light source at a wavelength of 365 nm) of single/co-doped strontium aluminate can be tunable or modified by varying doping concentrations. So, based on the photoluminescence properties and powder luminescence response under UV-light source, it was established that the prepared non-rare earth (Mn, Cu) and rare earth (Ce) doped SrAl12O19 as well as Mn/Cu/Ce (having different concentration): Eu (5 mol %) co-doped strontium aluminate phosphors can be useful for potential applications in the luminescence field.