Structural and luminescence characterization of synthetic Cr-doped Ni3(PO4)2

•Single phases of Ni3(PO4)2 were obtained by the modified sol–-gel Pechini-type method.•Cr (III) modifies the average particle size and size distribution of the Ni3(PO4)2.•Cr(III) gives rise to an enhancedment of the CL and TL UV-blue emission.

Ni3–xCr2x/3(PO4)2 (x=0 and 0.02) microcrystalline powders were obtained as single phases via a modified sol–gel Pechini-type in situ polymerizable complex method. The samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, cathodoluminescence (CL), and thermoluminescence (TL) techniques. We found that Cr3+ doping modified the average particle and distribution. The mean particle size was 0.441 μm for Ni3(PO4)2 and 0.267 μm for Ni2.98Cr0.013(PO4)2. The results also reveal that Cr3+ doping notably enhanced the CL and TL UV-blue emission.