• Resources Recycling
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.24-30
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• 2009

Rare earth based calcium aluminate phosphor ($CaAl_2O_4:Eu^{2+}$, $Nd^{3+}$) supported $TiO_2$ nanoparticles are synthesized by using sol-gel method, which are further characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), diffuse reflectance UV-Visible spectroscopy (DRS UV-Vis) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The XRD pattern of as-prepared and sintered phosphor supported $TiO_2$ does not show the tendency to change the crystal structure from anatase to rutile phase up to $600^{\circ}C$. This indicates that the phosphor support might inhibit the densification and crystallite growth by providing dissimilar boundaries. The diffuse reflectance spectral (DRS) measurements showed shift towards longer wavelength indicating reduction in the band-gap energy as compared to free $TiO_2$. The FT-IR spectra of phosphor supported $TiO_2$ nanoparticles show shift in the peak positions to lower wavelengths. This indicates that the $TiO_2$ nanoparticles are not free, but covalently bonded to the phosphor support. TEM micrographs show presence of crystalline and spherical $TiO_2$ nanoparticles (8 - 15 nm diameter) dispersed uniformly on the surface of phosphor.