Synthesis and photoluminescence characteristics of Dy3+-doped ZnAl2O4 nanocrystals via a combustion process

Ultrafine ZnAl2O4:Dy3+ nanocrystals were prepared via a combustion process using metal nitrates as precursors. Dy3+-doped ZnAl2O4 nanocrystals with good crystallinity were obtained at a relatively low temperature (350 °C). The transmission electron micrograph (TEM) shows that the obtained products have uniform size distribution in the range of 13-15 nm. The absorption spectrum of the pure ZnAl2O4 reveals that the band gap is about 3.7 eV. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of doped samples as a function of the furnace temperature have been investigated.