Preparation and Al3+ enhanced photoluminescence properties of CaTiO3:Pr3+

Abstract A enhanced photoluminescence red phosphor of CaTi 1− x O 3 :Pr 3+ ,Al 3+ x has been synthesized using nano-TiO 2 aerogel, Al(NO 3 ) 3 , Pr(NO 3 ) 3 , CaCO 3 as the starting material in ethanol solution by liquid–solid state reaction and high temperature sintering method. The synthesizing conditions have been optimized in this work. The phosphor consists of aggregates of about 500–1000 nm in diameter with observable porosity and has characteristic of the distorted orthorhombic form of perovskite-type calcium titanate. The red emission is attributed to 1 D 2 → 3 H 4 transition of Pr 3+ , and the excited energy comes from the UV absorption of host and transfers to 4f–5d band of Pr 3+ . Addition of Al 3+ intensifies PL emission remarkably and optimal range of concentration of Al 3+ is 8∼15 mol%. Charge compensation eliminates more charge defects by incorporating with Al 3+ and enhances PL.