Microstructural and Radioluminescence Characteristics of Nd 3+ Doped Columbite-Type SrNb 2 O 6 Phosphor.

Undoped and different concentration Nd3+ doped SrNb2 O6 powders with columbite structure were synthesized by molten salt process using a mixture of strontium nitrate and niobium (V) oxide and NaCl-KCl salt mixture as a flux under relatively low calcining temperature. X-ray diffraction analysis results indicated that SrNb2 O6 phases found to be orthorhombic columbite single phase for undoped, 0.5 and 3 mol% Nd3+ doping concentrations. Phase composition of the powders was examined by SEM-EDS analyses. Radioluminescence properties of Nd3+ doped samples from UV to near-IR spectral region were studied. The emissions increased with the doping concentration of up to 3 mol%, and then decreased due to concentration quenching effect. There is a sharp emission peak around 880 nm associated with4 F5/2  → 4 I9/2 transition in the Nd3+ ion between 300 and 1100 nm. The broad emission band intensity was observed from 400 to 650 nm where the peak intensities increased by increasing Nd3+ doping concentration. All the measurements were taken under the room temperature.