Synthesis of Er3+-doped Na3La(PO4)2 micro-powders and photoluminescence properties

•The synthesis of Na3La1−xErx(PO4)2, where x = 10%, 20% and 50% is described.•The DRX and Infrared spectroscopy of Er3+-doped Na3La(PO4)2 are studied.•The photoluminescence properties are discussed as function of structural and morphological behavior.•The decay times of 4S3/2 level in Na3La1−xErx(PO4)2 micro-powders are revealed.

Na3La(PO4)2 doped with different concentrations of erbium ion Er3+ are grown by solid state reaction and characterized by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy and photoluminescence properties. These compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic system with space group Pca21. The evolution of crystal lattices parameters as function of Er3+ concentration in these lattices was studied. Spectroscopic properties of the samples of Na3La1−xErx(PO4)2, where x = 10%, 20% and 50% are presented. The absorption spectra as well as the gap energies of Na3La1−xErx(PO4)2 have been investigated. Photoluminescence emission and excitation as well as decay times were measured at room temperature and discussed as function of Er3+ concentration, crystal structure and particle-size distribution of the lattices. A comparative study reveals that Na3La1−xErx(PO4)2 is candidate for use in optical devices.