Synthesis and luminescence properties of ZnGa2O4 spinel doped with Co2+ and Eu3+ ions

ZnGa2O4 nanopowders doped with Co2+ and Eu3+ ions, including dual doping, have been synthesized by citrate sol-gel method, and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results show that ZnGa2O4 spinels were produced by calcining the gel above 500 degrees C, with the crystallite size of 16-30 nm in the temperature range of 500-900 degrees C. Co2+ ions are located at the tetrahedral sites of ZnGa2O4 spinel by replacing Zn2+, and Eu3+ ions are incorporated in the defect regions at the grain boundaries. The emission spectra of Eu-doped ZnGa2O4 nanopowders display an intense emission at 615 nm belonging to D-5(0)-F-7(2) transition of Eu3+ ions. With the introduction of Co into Eu-doped ZnGa2O4, the emission intensity at 615 nm decreases, while the luminescence at 680 nm due to tetrahedral Co2+ increases. The result indicates that the energy transfer occurred from Eu3+ to Co2+ ions. The energy transfer was also studied by the luminescence decay behavior. The emission of Co and Eu Co-doped ZnGa2O4 also changed with annealing temperature. The luminescence properties of the doped ZnGa2O4 nanopowders can be controlled by the variation of Co and Eu doping concentration and annealing temperature. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.