Combustion synthesis of NaSrVO4: Nd3+ nanophosphors with enhanced NIR 1.056 μm luminescent performance for solid-state laser and bio-imaging applications

Abstract

We have executed a detailed investigation of the structural, morphological, spectroscopic, and optical properties of Nd3+-doped NaSrVO4 nanopowders with doping concentrations varying from 0.25 to 3 mol% derived by combustion method using X-ray diffraction, SEM, TEM, photoluminescence spectroscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, EDAX techniques. The results derived from the transmission electron microscopy studies and crystallite size estimation from modified Scherrer plot reveal the crystallite size of the synthesized phosphor to be well below 31 nm. Band gap energy of the synthesized nanophosphors can be estimated using Kubelk–Munk’s approximation. The effect of the incorporation of Nd3+ ions into the NaSrVO4 photoluminescence spectra, the enhancement of emission intensity with doping as well as the concentration quenching mechanism involved are discussed. The enhanced NIR luminescence of the synthesized material at 1.056 μm suggests its use in solid-state laser host material and bio-imaging applications. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.