Structural and photoluminescence investigations of Sm3+ doped BaY2ZnO5 nanophosphors

Abstract BaY 2 ZnO 5 :Sm 3+ nanophosphor was successfully synthesized using solution combustion process. XRD and photoluminescence (PL) techniques were used to analyze the structural and photoluminescence properties. Morphological study of the thermally stable powder was carried out using transmission electron microscope (TEM). Rietveld refinement technique has been used to analyze the samples qualitatively as well as quantitatively. X-Ray diffraction analysis confirms that the highly crystalline single phased Sm 3+ doped BaY 2 ZnO 5 nanophosphor crystallizes in orthorhombic lattice with Pbnm space group. The average particle size lies in the range 80–90 nm with spherical morphology. The photoluminescence excitation at 411 nm yields an intense orange–red emission centered at 610 nm due to 4 G 5/2 – 6 H 7 / 2 transition. The concentration dependent luminescent behavior of BaY 2(1− x ) Sm 2 x ZnO 5 nanophosphor shows that the optimum concentration for best luminescence is 3 mol%. These results indicate that these nanophosphors find potential applications in the field of phosphor-converted white LED systems.