Preparation and fluorescence properties of MgAl2O4: Tb3+ nanorod-like phosphors

Abstract

A series of MgAl _2 O _4 : x % Tb ^3+ ( x = 1.0–6.0) phosphors was prepared by a hydrothermal-assisted light burning method. The crystal structure, morphology and fluorescence properties of the samples were investigated. The results indicated that when the the hydrothermal and light burning temperatures were determined to be 120 °C and 1100 °C, respectively, the crystallinity for Mg _4 Al _2 (OH) _14 and NH _4 Al(OH) _2 CO _3 biphasic precursors is the best, conducive to generating pure phase MgAl _2 O _4 nanorod-like phosphors. The entry of Tb ^3+ into the MgAl _2 O _4 lattice can cause lattice distortion, but the main structure of the spinel does not change. The main emission peaks for the series of phosphors are located in the green light region of 546 nm. The MgAl _2 O _4 : 4.0% Tb ^3+ phosphor has the highest fluorescence intensity and shows the best colour quality. Its CIE coordinates (x, y), CCT and colour purity are determined to be (0.3171, 0.5290), 5845 K and 53.50%, respectively. The series of MgAl _2 O _4 : Tb ^3+ phosphors exhibits typical cold green light emission and have good application prospects in solid-state display devices.

Keywords

• MgAl2O4: Tb3+
• nanorod-like phosphors
• hydrothermal-assisted light burning
• fluorescence properties