Effect of Eu³⁺ doping on structural and optical properties of zirconium titanate

The Europium activated (1-9 mol %) Zirconium Titanate nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by the green solution combustion method using Aloe Vera gel extract as a reducing agent, followed by the calcination at 720 °C for 3hrs. All the synthesized samples crystallize in a pure orthorhombic crystal structure with the space group of Pbcn. The surface and bulk morphology were analyzed. The crystallite size increases, whereas the direct energy band gap was found to decrease with an increase in dopant concentration. Further, the effect of dopant concentration on the photoluminescence properties was studied. The presence of Eu³⁺ ion in the trivalent state in the host lattice was confirmed by its characteristic emission at 610 nm due to ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ (λ_ex = 464 nm). The CIE coordinates were found in the red region of the CIE 1931 diagram. The CCT coordinates lie in the range 6288-7125 K. The Judd-Ofelt parameters and derived quantities were analyzed. This theory confirms the high symmetry of Eu³⁺ ions in the host lattice. These findings imply that ZTO:Eu³⁺ can be employed as a nanopowder material in a red-emitting phosphor material.