Low-temperature synthesis of CaTiO3 nanocrystals doped with Pr3+ ions and their luminescence

CaTiO3:Pr3+ nanocrystals were synthesized by solvothermal method. The as-prepared powders crystallized to the pure orthorhombic phase after calcination at 600 degrees C in air for 3 hours. CaTiO3:Pr3+ nanocrystals are petaline in shape with the decrease of the reactant concentration. The corresponding bulk CaTiO3:Pr3+ was synthesized by high temperature solid-state reaction. All the products were systematically characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescent excitation spectra (PLE). The luminescence mechanism and the size dependence of their fluorescence properties are also discussed.