Structural characterization and thermoluminescence studies of UV irradiated and Eu3+ activated BaZr0.25Ti0.75O3 powders

Appropriate amount of dopant enhances the luminescence intensity of host material. Inspired by the encouraging electrical properties of perovskite materials, we report on some optical features of Eu3+ activated BaZrxTi(1−x)O3(BZT) powders synthesized by solid state reaction technique (SSRT) that usually produces particles with comparatively bigger size. However, we have succeeded in obtaining particles of smaller size with this technique. The effects of adding Eu3+ to BZT phosphor have been studied in terms of XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The X-ray diffractograms ascertain the formation of BZT with single phase while FESEM and HRTEM help in morphological analysis of prepared samples. The thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves for BZT:Eu3+are compared with respect to irradiation time and dopant concentration. The TL intensity is observed to be more for samples irradiated for longer time. It implies that irradiation time is an effectual and practical way to enhance TL intensity. The TL glow curves are deconvoluted using computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) method. The kinetic parameters, which play vital role in characterizing a particular phosphor material, have been calculated and presented for BZT:Eu3+.