Structural properties and luminescence kinetics of white nanophosphor YAG:Dy

Dysprosium (Dy3+ ions) doped YAG nanopowders were prepared by the solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method and undoped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG, Y3Al5O12) single crystal was grown by the Czochralski technique. The structure of the prepared materials has been confirmed and characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. PL spectra were acquired using Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) excitation tuned at 350 nm. Several emission bands in Dy3+ emission spectrum were observed in the blue (470-500 nm), yellow (560-600 nm), red (660-685 nm) and infra-red (750-780 nm) regions, corresponding to F-4(9/2)-H-6(15/2), F-4(9/2)-H-6(13/2), F-4(9/2)-H-6(11/2), F-4(9/2)-(H-6(9/2) + H-6(11/2)) transitions in the 4f levels of Dy3+ ions, respectively. By using the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity diagram of emission spectra it has been shown that this material can be used as a source of a white light. The result of lifetime analysis of the F-4(9/2) level in dysprosium ion has been reported, as well. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.