LAUSR

Abstract Un-doped and doped strontium aluminates (Sr 3 Al 2 O 6 , Sr 3 Al 2 O 6 :Tb 3+ , Sr 3 Al 2 O 6 :Tb 3+ ,Eu 3+ and Sr 3 Al 2 O 6 :Tb 3+ ,Eu 3+ /Eu 2+ ) were synthesized through a soft chemical method – the tartarate precursor route. The tartarate precursors were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and thermal analysis. The strontium aluminates were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The XRD patterns confirmed the formation of single-phase cubic structure Sr 3 Al 2 O 6 with average crystallite size of 18 nm. SEM micrographs showed porous polycrystalline powder microstructures and EDX analysis confirmed the incorporation of the dopant in the Sr 3 Al 2 O 6 powders. The photoluminescence spectrum recorded on Sr 3 Al 2 O 6 : Tb 3+ ,Eu 3+ (obtained from tartarate precursor calcined in air) showed the typical f-f luminescences of the RE-ions. Subsequent calcination of this sample in reducing atmosphere is accompanied by new photoluminescence and thermoluminescence features associated to the Eu 2+ ions.