This paper reports how zinc aluminate nanoparticles doped with Eu3+ ions were obtained by the method of combustion reaction synthesis. Four samples were prepared with different amounts of dopant to evaluate the effect of the concentration of Eu3+ ions on the powders' luminescence. X-ray diffraction results confirmed the formation of the spinel phase, as well as secondary phases identified as EuAlO3 and ZnO, in amounts directly proportional to the content of dopant in the samples. An excitation wavelength of 265 nm was determined based on the excitation spectrum. This wavelength was used to obtain the emission spectrum, which revealed the presence of peaks characteristic of Eu3+ ions located at around 578, 591 613, 653 and 703 nm. SEM analysis indicated that the powder's morphology consisted of irregular plate-shaped agglomerates composed of nanoparticles with scattered points of secondary phase on their surface. These results indicate how the intensity of luminescence is dependent on the Eu3+ ion content and on how these ions are incorporated, i.e., inserted into the host lattice, adsorbed on the surface, or forming a secondary phase.
nanoparticles; luminescence; combustion reaction
