Emission (Gd3+ and Sm3+) and ESR (Gd3+) studies of La1−xLnxB3O6 (Ln = Gd,Sm; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 for Gd; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1 for Sm) phosphors

Polycrystalline powders of rare-earth doped La_1?xGd_xB₃O₆ (0?≤?x?≤?0.2) and La_1?xSm_xB₃O₆ (0.0?≤?x?≤?0.1) phosphors were successfully prepared by a B₂O₃ flux method. All the phosphor samples are well characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) methods and fluorescence lifetime of Sm³⁺ ion. The XRD patterns show that La_1?xM_xB₃O₆ (M?=?Gd and Sm) adopt monoclinic with the I2/a space group. The SEM–EDS results confirmed the doping of Gd and Sm into LaB₃O₆ lattice. The IR and Raman spectra of these solid solutions gave distinctive bands corresponding to planar BO₃ and tetrahedral BO₄ groups. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of La_1?xGd_xB₃O₆ gave a strong emission band, ⁶P_J?→?⁸S_7/2, at 310 nm. The PL spectra of La_1?xSm_xB₃O₆ phosphor showed orange-red emission at 598 nm when excited using light of wavelength of 402 nm. The results were obtained by the transition ⁴G_5/2?→?⁶H_7/2 of Sm³⁺ ions. The influence of dopant concentration on the emission profiles was studied. The ESR spectra of La_1?xGd_xB₃O₆ (x?=?0.02) gave a typical U-spectrum and spin-Hamiltonian parameters are deduced.

     

Synthesis and characterization of aluminum oxide–boron carbide coatings by air plasma spraying

Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃)–boron carbide (B₄C) composites have been proposed for use as cutting tools as well as in high temperature applications due to their high hardness and fracture toughness. The air plasma spraying method was used to fabricate the composite coatings of Al₂O₃ and B₄C. Three different Al₂O₃:B₄C composition ratios of 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30 by weight were plasma sprayed on plain carbon steel substrates. The effect of B₄C content on microstructure, hardness, porosity and thermal diffusivity of the coatings were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microhardness testing, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the flash diffusivity method. The plasma spray parameters were optimized in order to achieve a theoretical density of approximately 90%.