Preparation and luminescence characterization of Eu(III)-activated Forsterite for optoelectronic applications

Abstract Eu(III)-activated Forsterite (Mg2SiO4) nanophosphors have been developed by sol-gel technique at 800 °C. The structural and phase purity of the focused materials have been investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformation infrared (FT-IR) studies. XRD analysis confirms an orthorhombic structure of the prepared phosphors. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image depicts somewhat aggregated particles having 50-80 nm size. The peaks at 420 and 464 cm−1, in FT-IR spectrum of Mg2SiO4:Eu3+, have been assigned to MgO6 octahedral. Photoluminescence excitation spectra of nanophosphors specify that these materials can be proficiently excited using UV (393 nm) light and which characteristic fluorescence 5D0 → 7FJ (J = 0 - 3) of Eu3+ ion and strongest one gives red emission peaked at 613 nm (5D0→7F2). Blasse's theory of concentration quenching has been employed to understand the mechanism of energy transfer. The influence of covalent character and structural environment, in the vicinity of trivalent europium ion, on the optical properties has been successfully analyzed using Judd-Ofelt (J-O) analysis The CIE color-coordinates of materials fall into the brighter red region which makes the phosphors effective for optoelectronic applications.