Enhanced afterglow performance of CaAl_(2)O_(4):Eu^(2+),Nd^(3+) phosphors by co-doping Gd^(3+)

In order to effectively improve the afterglow properties of CaAl_(2)O_(4):Eu^(2+),Nd^(3+) phosphors,a series of Ca_(0.982-x)Al_(2)O_(4):0.012 Eu^(2+),0.006 Nd^(3+),xGd^(3+)(x=0,0.012,0.024,0.036,0.048,0.060 mol) phosphors were prepared by a high-temperature solid-phase approach.Crystalline composition and microstructure were characterized by XRD,TEM,HRTEM,and XPS,luminescence properties were systematically analyzed by fluorescence spectra,afterglow decay curves and TL glow curve.Results show that all of Ca_(0.982-x)Al_(2)O_(4):0.012 Eu^(2+),0.006 Nd^(3+),xGd^(3+)phosphors belong to monoclinic CaAl_(2)O_(4),without other cystalline phase.The blue emission at 442 nm is observed,which is assigned to the 4f^(6)5 d→4f^(7) transition of Eu^(2+) ions.Doping with appropriate amount of Gd^(3+) ions(x=0.036 mol) significantly improves the afterglow properties of phosphors,but the excessive doping of Gd^(3+) induces the fluorescent quenching.The doping of moderate Gd^(3+) changes the traps states,the trap depth varies from 0.598 to 0.644 eV and the trap concentration is also greatly improved,thus significantly improving afterglow performance.