Blue light excited novel Eu doped CaGd₂ZnO₅ nanophosphors: Structural and photoluminescent properties

Herein, we report undoped and Eu doped CaGd₂ZnO₅ (CGZ) phosphors synthesized via low-temperature combustion synthesis route using urea as a fuel. The as-synthesized phosphors are characterized via X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, UV/visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescent techniques. The excitation spectra of the synthesized phosphors consist of intense peak at 465 nm lying in the blue region of the visible spectrum. The phosphors emit intense red emission spectra at 612 nm corresponding to the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition under blue excitation. This feature of synthesized phosphors makes them pristine candidates for red emission under blue excitation over the other phosphors which are excited under UV or near-UV excitation.