Al2O3:Cr3+ microfibers by hydrothermal route: Luminescence properties

Uniform Al2O3:Cr3+ microfibers were synthesized by using a hydrothermal route and thermal decomposition of a precursor of Cr3+ doped ammonium aluminum hydroxide carbonate (denoted as AAHC), and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra and decay curves. XRD indicated that Cr3+ doped samples calcined at 1473 K were the most of α-Al2O3 phase. SEM showed that the length and diameter of these Cr3+ doped alumina microfibers were about 3–9 μm and 300 nm, respectively. PL spectra showed that the Al2O3:Cr3+ microfibers presented a broad R band at 696 nm. It is shown that the 0.07 mol% of doping concentration of Cr3+ ions in α-Al2O3:Cr3+ was optimum. According to Dexter's theory, the critical distance between Cr3+ ions for energy transfer was determined to be 38 Å. It is found that the curve followed the single-exponential decay.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Uniform Al2O3:Cr3+ microfibers were synthesized via a hydrothermal route and thermal decomposition. ► The length and diameter of Al2O3:Cr3+ microfibers were about 3–9 μm and 300 nm, respectively. ► Al2O3:Cr3+ microfibers presented a broad R band at 696 nm when excited at 400 nm. ► It is shown that the 0.07 mol% of doping concentration of Cr3+ ions in α-Al2O3:Cr3+ is optimum. ► Critical distance between Cr3+ ions for energy transfer was determined to be 38 Å.