Doped aluminium based spinels synthesized by a soft chemistry method

Structural and optical properties of (Co0.01Zn0.99)Al2O4 and Zn(Al1.99Ln0.01)O4 (where Ln(III) = Eu(III), Tb(III)) spinels obtained by a variant of the complexation method—tartarate route were studied. The tartarate precursors have been characterized by IR, UV–vis and luminescence spectroscopy. The doped aluminium based spinels have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transsmision electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) and luminescence spectroscopy. Pure spinel nanometer powders were obtained. Under excitation at 380 nm the nanoparticles exhibits strong luminescence corresponding to 5D0 → 7F2 transition of Eu3+ ions and respectively, to 5D4 → 7Fj (j = 3, 4, 5, 6) transition of Tb3+ ions. No blue emission from the 5D3 state were observed.