Sol–gel synthesis of micro and nanocrystalline BaAl2O4:Eu3+ powders and their luminescence properties

Abstract In this paper, we report the obtention of barium aluminate (BaAl 2 O 4 ) powders doped with Eu 3+ ions by the sol–gel method heat-treated at 900 and 1000 °C for 3 h. XRD patterns indicated that the powders have orthorhombic structure with a high crystallite dispersion. The powders have size at submicron scale. They are a strong red emitting materials when are irradiated by ultraviolet light (250 nm). Measured emission and excitation luminescence spectra demonstrated characteristic spectroscopic properties of Eu 3+ ions. Recorded luminescence decays and emission spectra were base for calculation of Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters. A detailed analysis of calculated parameters in connection with observed structural and spectroscopic measurements has been done and described.