Synthesis and characterization of CaAl2O4-based luminescent nanostructured materials

• Grant number: 18/09837-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: August 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Mesquita
• Grantee: Gabriela Maria Rodrigues da Silva
• Supervisor: Petr Neugebauer
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas (IGCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Brno University of Technology (BUT), Czech Republic
• Associated to the scholarship: 16/25225-3 - Synthesis and characterization of CaAl2O4-based luminescent nanostructured semiconductor materials, BP.IC

Abstract

Calcium aluminate (CaAl2O4) is one of the most widely used alkaline earth aluminate compounds. Pure or doped calcium aluminate has received remarkable attention because of fundamental properties, versatility, and potential for several technological applications. CaAl2O4 doped with rare earths or transition metals has shown interesting luminescent properties and it has since been investigated as a possible host material for long-lasting persistent phosphors. In this context, this internship project aims to perform the characterization of pure CaAl2O4andof CaAl2O4 doped with Mn, Pr, and Zn atoms using the electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique and correlate with photoluminescent properties. This technique can provide information about oxidation states, symmetry, and defects associated with the respective incorporations in the CaAl2O4 matrix, fundamental for a better understanding of the photoluminescent properties. Structural properties of the samples have already been characterized by conventional techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. (AU)