BaZnGdO:Tb-structural characterization and the Judd-Ofelt parameterization from emission spectra.

BaZnGdO:Tb nanorods; synthesized via solution combustion route; were found to crystallize in the tetragonal (I4/m, 87) crystal system. The UV excitation at 290 nm of all BaZnGdO:Tb samples yielded the characteristics emission corresponding to D → F transitions in Tb activator (used for Judd-Ofelt analysis). A detailed investigation of photoluminescence decay curves and emission spectra of BaZnGdO:Tb nanorods provided the radiative lifetime (1.0889 ms) and total radiative transition rates from D state in Tb ion. The electric-dipole radiative transition probabilities (extracted from total radiative rates i.e. electric-dipole + magnetic-dipole) were used to calculate the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Ω = 4.76 × 10, Ω = 2.11 × 10 and Ω = 2.00 × 10 cm). The very high quantum efficiency of D state (81%) suggests their potential use in lighting and display devices. Finally, a large magnitude of peak stimulated emission cross section of D → F (16.5838 × 10 cm) transition also claims their promising candidature as a good laser material.