Nd3+ concentration effect on luminescent properties of MgAl2O4 nanopowders synthesized by modified Pechini method

Abstract

In this paper, the concentration series of MgAl2O4:Nd3+ nanocrystalline powders have been synthesized by modified Pechini method. Neodymium doping concentration was varied within range of 0.05–5 ​at.%. The obtained samples have been analyzed using the various experimental methods: X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy, as well as steady-state and kinetics photoluminescence spectroscopy. According to XRD, all synthesized samples are monophasic without any structural impurities. The doping concentration effect on the luminescent characteristics of MgAl2O4:Nd3+ nanocrystalline particles has been studied in terms of emission intensity and lifetime. The optimal doping Nd3+ concentration was determined to be 0.1 ​at.%. Concentration quenching in MgAl2O4:Nd3+ powders occurred via energy transfer among the nearest neighbor ions. Performed studies shed the light on behavior of Nd3+ ions in nanoscale magnesium aluminum spinel.