Synthesis and luminescent properties of BaGd2O4:Eu3+BaGd2O4:Eu3+ phosphor

Superfine BaGd2O4:Eu3+BaGd2O4:Eu3+ phosphors were synthesized by EDTA sol–gel method at relatively low temperature using metal nitrate and EDTA as starting materials. X-ray diffraction results confirmed the formation of BaGd2O4:Eu3+BaGd2O4:Eu3+. The superfine powder of BaGd2O4:Eu3+BaGd2O4:Eu3+ has an elliptical shape and an average diameter of about 200–400 nm. Compared with the traditional solid-state method, this new method has the advantages of a relatively low calcination temperature, short calcination time, small particle size and narrow particle size distribution. Upon excitation with 254 nm UV light, all the powder samples of BaGd2(1-x)O4:Eu2x3+ show bright red emission due to the 4f–4f4f–4f transitions of Eu3+Eu3+ ions, and the highest photoluminescence intensity at 609 nm was found at a content of about 6 mol% Eu3+Eu3+. Splitting of the D05–F07 and D05–F17 emission transitions revealed that the Eu3+Eu3+ ions occupied different surroundings.