Study on preparation and luminescent properties of Eu3+-doped LaAlO3 and GdAlO3

Eu3+-doped trigonal LaAlO3 and orthorhombic GdAlO3 phosphors have been successfully synthesized by sol–gel method. The crystallization processes of the phosphors have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). The optical properties of these phosphors were investigated using the photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra. The influences of the different structures and bonding of the hosts on the luminescence performance of Eu3+ ion-doped LaAlO3 and GdAlO3 were investigated in detail based on chemical bond theory. Under appropriate UV-radiation, the reddish orange light emitted from GdAlO3:Eu3+ was brighter than that from LaAlO3:Eu3+. Such a brightly luminescent phosphor could be considered as an ideal optical material for the development of new optical display systems.