BaAl12O19:Mn green emitting nanophosphor for PDP application synthesized by solution combustion method and its Vacuum Ultra-Violet Photoluminescence Characteristics

Nanostructured BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn²⁺ phosphor particles of nano-rod morphology with diameter 40-100 nm and length up to 200-600 nm has been synthesized by solution combustion method and its photoluminescence characteristics have been studied by Vacuum Ultra-Violet Photoluminescence spectrometer (VUVPL) under 147 nm excitation. The crystallographic phase purity of BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn²⁺ nanostructured phosphor particle synthesized by solution combustion approach is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The broadening of XRD diffraction peaks indicates nanocrystalline nature of particles present in powder. The emission spectrum of BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn²⁺ nanophosphor on 147 nm excitation consists of a wide green band with a peak at about 515 nm, which is due to a 3d⁵ (⁴T_1g)-3d⁵ (⁶A_1g) transition corresponds of Mn²⁺ ions. It is found that the concentration quenching is obtained when Mn²⁺ content (x) is 0.05 in BaAl₁₂O₁₉:xMn²⁺ nanophosphor on 147 nm excitation. The decay time of 3d⁵ (⁴T_1 g)-3d⁵ (⁶A_1 g) transition of Mn²⁺ ions at 147 nm excitation is about 23 ms for BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn²⁺ nanophosphor. This nanostructured green emitting BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn²⁺ phosphor can find potential application in Plasma Display Panels (PDPs) and mercury-free fluorescent lamps.