Synthesis and characterization of Sr_3Al_2O_6:Eu^(2+), Dy^(3+) phosphors prepared by sol-gel-combustion processing

A type of red luminescent Sr3Al2O6：Eu2＋, Dy3＋ phosphor powder is synthesised by sol-gel-combustion processing, with metal nitrates used as the source of metal ions and citric acid as a chelating agent of metal ions. By tracing the formation process of the sol-gel, it is found that it is necessary to reduce the amount of NO3 by dropping ethanol into the solution for forming a stable and homogeneous sol-gel. Thermogravimetric and Differential Scanning Calorimeter Analysis, x-ray diffractionmeter, scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy are used to investigate the luminescent properties of the as-synthesised Sr3A1206：Eu2＋, Dy3＋. The results reveal that the Sr3Al2O6 crystallises completely when the combustion ash is sintered at 1250℃. The excitation and the emission spectra indicate that the excitation broadband lies mainly in a visible range and the phosphors emit a strong light at 618 nm under the excitation of 472 nm. The afterglow of （Sr0.94Eu0.03Dy0.03）3Al2O6 phosphors sintered at 1250℃ lasts for over 1000 s when the excited source is cut off.