Synthesis and photoluminescence in ZnAl ₂ O ₄ : Gd3+ phosphors prepared by combustion method for applications in opto-electronic devices

In this paper, a series of Gd[Formula: see text]-doped ZnAl 2 O 4 powder phosphors were prepared by adopting urea-assisted combustion synthesis. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) method confirmed the cubic spinel structure with space group F[Formula: see text]3m (No. 227). SEM revealed the surface properties and size of the as-prepared microparticles. EDS and elemental mapping confirmed the constituents present in the as-prepared sample. UVB emission observed at 312[Formula: see text]nm ( 6 P[Formula: see text]S[Formula: see text]) upon 273[Formula: see text]nm excitation. As-synthesized phosphors have potential uses in UV-emitting devices used for medical applications and other optical devices.