Synthesis and luminescent properties of Ln3+ (Eu3+, Sm3+, Dy3+)-doped lanthanum aluminum germanate LaAlGe2O7 phosphors

Abstract The novel phosphor of LaAlGe2O7 activated with the trivalent rare-earth Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Sm, Dy) ions were synthesized by solid-state method, and their characterization and luminescent properties were investigated. The absorption, emission and excitation spectra, and decay curves were employed to study the luminescence properties. The calcined powders of the Eu3+, Sm3+ and Dy3+ ions doped in the LaAlGe2O7 emit bright red, reddish orange and yellowish white light, respectively. In the photoluminescence investigations, there is a single and highly symmetric site for activator ions in the LaAlGe2O7 host lattice. The sharp emission properties show that the LaAlGe2O7 is a suitable host for rare-earth doped laser crystal and phosphor material.