Preparation and photoluminescence of SrNb2O6 nanoparticles prepared by combustion method

Pure and Mn-doped SrNb2O6 nanoparticles have been prepared by sol-gel combustion method using citric acid as fuel and complexing agent and nitrates as oxidants at a relatively low temperature compared to solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the pure SrNb2O6 samples show that the SrNb2O6 nanoparticles exhibited orthorhombic phase. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of all the undoped and Mn-doped samples were studied in detail. For the pure SrNb2O6 samples, a strong blue emission band centered at 442 nm and two weak emission bands centered at 524 nm and 626 nm, respectively, can be observed. For the Mn-doped SrNb2O6 samples, no emission from Mn2+ was observed while the blue emission intensity of SrNb2O6 varied with the Mn-doping concentration. This novel PL characteristic of the doped samples was explained.