Photoluminescence properties of Ca Al O :RE (RE = Eu, Dy and Tb) phosphors for solid state lighting.

Ca Al O :Eu , Ca Al O :Dy and Ca Al O :Tb phosphors were synthesized using a combustion synthesis method. The prepared phosphors were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction for phase purity, by scanning electron microscopy for morphology, and by photoluminescence for emission and excitation measurements. The Ca Al O :Eu phosphors could be efficiently excited at 396 nm and showed red emission at 594 nm and 616 nm due to D  →  F and D  →  F transitions. Dy -doped phosphors showed blue emission at 482 nm and yellow emission at 573 nm. Ca Al O :Tb phosphors showed emission at 545 nm when excited at 352 nm. Concentration quenching occurred in both Eu and Dy phosphors at 0.5 mol%. Photoluminescence results suggested that the aluminate-based phosphor could be a potential candidate for application in environmentally friendly based lighting technologies.