Color tunable nanocrystalline SrGd2Al2O7:Tb3+ phosphor for solid state lighting

Abstract Color tunable Tb 3+ doped SrGd 2 Al 2 O 7 nanophosphor is synthesized employing a facile and economic urea assisted solution combustion approach. XRD studies confirm the crystallization of single phased SrGd 2(1- x ) Tb 2 x Al 2 O 7 nanophosphor in tetragonal lattice with I 4/ mmm (139) space group. Rietveld refinement is performed over SrGd 1.9 Tb 0.1 Al 2 O 7 sample to execute qualitative as well as quantitative phase analysis. TEM analysis confirms the more or less spherical shaped phosphors in nano domain with average particle size ranging 45–80 nm. Photoluminescent investigation reveals that this nanophosphor can be successfully excited by ultraviolet light yielding significant luminescent properties arising due to radiative transitions from 5 D 3,4 levels to 7 F j levels. Dipole-dipole interactions are solely responsible for the energy transfer causing concentration quenching. Concentration controlled luminescent tendency can be employed to induce chromaticity from blue to green region. Findings of the study proclaim the application of this nanophosphor as one of the green component of tricolor based ultraviolet excited white LEDs.