Luminescence and ESR study of Gd3+ doped Ca3Al2O6 phosphor

Gd3+-doped Ca3Al2O6 (CA3) phosphor was synthesized using a combustion method. The crystal structure and the phase purity of the sample were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The surface morphology of the sample was studied using a scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The Gd3+-doped Ca3Al2O6 phosphor showed an absorption band in the UV spectral region and a narrowband-UVB emission under the excitation of 273 nm. The narrowband-UVB emission at 314 nm corresponds to the 6P7/2 → 8S7/2 transition of the Gd3+. A dominant line in the region around g = 2.0 was observed in the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrum of the prepared phosphor.