Role of Nd3+ concentration on the microstructure and scintillation behaviour of langbeinite sulphate

• Published in: Materials letters 2021-02, Vol.284, p.128997, Article 128997
• Main Authors: Poornima, Velswamy, Mohan, Subramaniam, Uma, Tiruchirappalli Sivagnanam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceramics; Chemical precipitation; Emission analysis; High temperature; Langebeinites; Luminescence; Materials science; Microstructure; Neodymium; Particle size distribution; Phosphors; Photomicrographs; Scintillation; Stability analysis
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2020.128997

•Neodymium (Nd3+) doping of K2Ca2(SO4)3 phosphors is reported for the first time.•Effect of Nd3+ concentration on the RL properties of K2Ca2(SO4)3 is studied.•Spectroscopic and X-ray luminescence studies exhibit NIR emission properties.•RL emission is attributed to 4I9/2 → 4F5/2 + 2H9/2 transition at 794 nm.•K2Ca2(SO4)3: Nd3+ serve as promising candidates for real time radiation dosimetry. Langebeinite (K2Ca2(SO4)3) ceramics doped with increasing concentrations of Nd3+ ions (0.01–0.04 mol%) was prepared by wet chemical precipitation and calcination at 800 °C. Thermal studies revealed high temperature stability of the phosphors. UV–VIS-NIR spectroscopic analysis of phosphors reveal strong absorption peaks representing f → f transitions. Direct bandgap derived from Kubelka-Munk plot was found to be ~5.66 eV. FTIR studies reveal tetrahedral symmetry of the SO42− ions. SEM micrographs reveal the formation of phosphors with wide particle size distribution and elemental composition was analysed using EDX studies. Scintillation studies representing a single high intensity peak around 784 nm is ascribed to 4I9/2 → 4F5/2 + 2H9/2 transition. Langbeinite phosphor with 0.02 mol% of Nd3+ exhibited maximum emission intensity indicating optimal concentration for scintillation studies favouring the development of NIR emitting phosphors.