Size-Dependent Persistent Luminescence of YAGG:Cr³⁺ Nanophosphors

In the current work, YAGG:Cr³⁺ nanophosphors were synthesized by the Pechini method and then annealed at different temperatures in the range 800-1300 °C. The structure and morphology of the samples were characterized by X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD). The lattice parameters and average crystalline sizes as site occupation by Al³⁺ and Ga³⁺ ions were calculated from the Rietveld refinement data. To investigate the effect of crystalline size of the materials on their optical properties: excitation and emission spectra were recorded and analyzed. Finally, the effect of crystalline size on the probability of carrier recombination leading to PersL was determined experimentally with thermoluminescence analyses. The T_max-T_stop method was applied to determine the trap type and particle size (calcination temperature) effect on their redistribution. A correlation between structural changes and trap redistribution was found. In particular, the extinction of high-temperature TL maximum with increasing annealing temperatures is observed, while low-temperature TL maximum increases and reaches a maximum when the lattice parameter reaches saturation.