Combustion Synthesized Cr3+-doped-BaMgAl10O17 Phosphor: An Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Optical Study

BaMgAl10O17 phosphors doped with Cr3+ ions were prepared by a combustion route at a furnace temperature of 773 K. The X-ray diffraction pattern revealed that the BaMgAl10O17 phosphor was in a hexagonal phase. Energy-dispersive X-ray mapping images demonstrated the presence of the dopant ion in the BaMgAl10O17 matrix. The bands observed in the optical absorption spectrum were characteristic of Cr3+ ions in octahedral geometry. Upon 555-nm excitation, an intense narrow red emission line centred at 690 nm due to the E-2(g) -> (4)A(2g) transition of Cr3+ ions was observed. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of Cr3+ ions in BaMgAl10O17 phosphor showed multiple absorption bands having at least 6 g values. Based on the EPR data, various parameters such as the absolute number of spins, Gibbs potential, magnetic susceptibility and magnetic moments, Curie constant, etc., for the system were evaluated.