Emission properties of nanostructured Eu3+ doped zinc aluminate spinels

The preparation of nanostructured ZnAl2O4 spinel powders doped with Eu3+ io ns obtained by a hydrothermal method is described. XRD analyses demonstrate d that the powders were single-phase spinel nanopowders with high crystalli te dispersion. The averaged spinel particle size was determined to be 6 nm as prepared and it increased up to 8 nm for calcination at 500 degrees C, T he emission spectra of Eu3+ ions measured for the samples calcinated at 500 degrees C demonstrated inhomogeneous shapes characteristic for disordered material which after heating at 1500 degrees C changed shape into an ordere d shape characteristic of the crystalline form. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S .A. All rights reserved.