The effects of sintering method on crystalline morphology and photoluminescent properties of BaY2ZnO5:Tb3+

This paper describes the effects of microwave assisted sintering on the crystalline morphology and photoluminescent properties of BaY2ZnO5 doped with 4 mol% Tb powder. For comparison, the properties of BaY2ZnO5:Tb powders sintered at 1250 °C in conventional furnace for 12 h were also investigated. X-ray powder diffraction analysis showed the enhanced crystallinity of orthorhombic BaY2ZnO5 without second phase or phases of starting materials as BaY2ZnO5:Tb powders sintered at 1250 °C in microwave furnace for 1 h. In the PL studies, the emission spectra of BaY2ZnO5:Tb powders excited at 237 nm exhibits a maximum peak assigned to 5D4 → 7F5 transition. In addition, the emission intensity of the prepared powder is slightly enhanced, compared to that sintered at 1250 °C/12 h in a conventional sintering furnace.