Structure and luminescent properties of Co2+/Cr3+ co-doped ZnGa2O4 nanoparticles

Co2+/Cr3+ co-doped ZnGa2O4 nanoparticles were prepared by a citrate sol-gel method. Their structure and luminescent properties were studied by using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The nanoparticles with the size of 18-50 nm were obtained when the precursor was annealed at 500 °C or above. Ga3+ ions occupied the octahedral sites as well as the tetrahedral sites, while Cr3+ ions only entered the octahedral sites by replacing Ga3+. The as-synthesized samples had partially inverted spinel structure and the inversion degree slightly decreased with increasing temperature. The Cr3+:ZnGa2O4 sample exhibited an intense emission at 695 nm, corresponding to the 2E→4A2 transition of octahedral Cr3+. The emission intensity of Cr3+ was largely reduced when the sample was co-doped with Co2+. However, the emission intensity of Co2+ in 2% Co/1% Cr co-doped ZnGa2O4 is improved approximately 2 times when compared with 2% co-doped sample. This enhanced emission could be attributed to an efficient energy transfer from Cr3+ to Co2+. The energy transfer mechanism is also discussed.