Studies on Eu doped Ba and Zn aluminate phosphors prepared by combustion synthesis

BaAl2O4:Eu2+ and ZnAl2O4:Eu3+ phosphors were prepared by urea combustion route. The formation of crystalline aluminates was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The X-band EPR spectra of BaAl2O4:Eu2+ showed the presence of Eu2+ ions, while in the case of ZnAl2O4:Eu3+, no signal attributable to Eu2+ was observed. The broad band UV excited luminescence of BaAl2O4:Eu2+ was observed at the blue region (λmax = 439 nm) due to transitions from the 4f65d1 to the 4f7 configuration of the Eu2+ ion, whereas ZnAl2O4:Eu3+ gave an emission at 613 nm attributed to 5D0-7F2 transition of Eu3+ ions.