Luminescence studies of a combustion-synthesized blue–green BaAlxOy:Eu2+,Dy3+ nanoparticles

Blue–green emitting BaAlxOy:Eu2+,Dy3+ phosphor was synthesized by the combustion method. The influence of various parameters on the structural, photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) properties of the phosphor were investigated by various techniques. Phosphor nanocrystallites with high brightness were obtained without significantly changing the crystalline structure of the host. In the PL studies, broad-band excitation and emission spectra were observed with major peaks at 340 and 505 nm, respectively. The observed afterglow is ascribed to the generation of suitable traps due to the presence of the co-doped Dy3+ ions. Though generally broad, the peak structure of the TL glow curves obtained after irradiation with UV light was non-uniform with suggesting the contribution to afterglow from multiple events at the luminescent centers. Further insight on the afterglow behavior of the phosphor was deduced from TL decay results.