Photoluminescence of Al2O3 nanopowders of different phases

Abstract Photoluminescence was studied in six samples of Al2O3 nanopowders produced from the same initial material by calcination in the 800–1400 °C temperature range. At temperature around 1200 °C phase transition in aluminum oxide lattice occurs; the samples produced at temperatures up to 1200 °C contain mainly δ phase, while those obtained at 1400 °C contain pure α phase. In all studied samples of nominally pure aluminum oxide nanopowders photoluminescence is determined by trace level concentrations of uncontrolled impurities. It was found that phase transition is accompanied with modification of the emission spectrum: a broad band centered around 750 nm presumably ascribed to emission o…