Combustion Synthesis of YAG:Nd: Structural, Luminescent Characterization and Influence of Si Doping

Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Nd) powder was prepared by solution-combustion synthesis using aluminum nitrate, yttrium nitrate, neodymium nitrate, urea, and glycine as starting materials. The characteristic near-IR emission of Nd3+ at 1067 nm was found to maximize at a Nd3+ concentration of 1 mol %. The impact of Si4+ co-doping on the crystal structure, morphology, and photoluminescence has also been studied. In the presence of the dopant, the emission intensity enhanced by 21% at an optimal Si4+ content of YAG:Nd3+ phosphor, which can be attributed to improvement in crystallinity, formation of pure phase, and creation of color centers due to mismatch in ionic radii between parent and doped ions.