Development of luminescent materials with strong UV–blue absorption

A new green emitting phosphor Eu-activated orthoaluminate has been prepared by low temperature combustion synthesis of Eunitrate, Al-nitrate and a fuel (hydrazine). The crystalline structure was identified by X-ray diffraction and all the peaks could be indexed to the orthorhombic AlEuO 3 having a perovskite-type structure. A strong green-yellowish photholuminescence peak, centered at around 538 nm, was registered at room temperature when the phosphor was excited by ultraviolet photons in the range of λ = 250-450 nm due to electronic transitions generated in Eu 2+ . This wide excitation range makes AlEuO 3 :Eu 2+ suitable for applications in solid state light devices, particularly at long UV wavelengths. Cathodoluminescent properties for the same phosphor powder were analyzed and produced a strong red peak centered at A = 616 nm, which is typical of the hypersensitive 'Do -> 7 F 2 transitions in Eu 3+ .