Effects of varying Sm(3+) concentration on the structure, morphology and photoluminescence properties of the BaAl(2)O(4) /CaAl(2)O(4)/Ca(4)Al(6)O(13)/Ca(3)Al(2)O(6):x% Sm(3+) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.9) mixed phases using citrate sol-gel method

BaAl(2)O(4)/CaAl(2)O(4)/Ca(4)Al(6)O(13)/Ca(3)Al(2)O(6):x% Sm(3+) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.9) (hereafter called BCCC:x% Sm(3+)) nanophosphors were successfully prepared by citrate sol-gel method. The structure, morphology and photoluminescence properties of the prepared nanophosphors were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the nanophosphors composed of the mixed phases of the hexagonal (CaAl(2)O(4), BaAl(2)O(4)) and cubic (Ca(4)Al(6)O(13), Ca(3)Al(2)O(6)) crystal structures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that doping influences the morphology of the prepared nanophosphor. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) confirmed that the prepared phosphor particles are in the nanoscale range. Photoluminescence (PL) results showed emission peaks originating from the intrinsic defects within the BaAl(2)O(4), CaAl(2)O(4) and Sm(3+) transitions. The optimum luminescence intensity was found at 0.7% Sm(3+). Commission Internationale de l'éclairage (CIE) shows that the Sm(3+) doped samples emitted the orange colour.