Luminescence Spectra of ZnAl$\text{}_{2}$O$\text{}_{4}$:Cr$\text{}^{3+}$ Spinel Nanopowders

The synthetic ZnAl$\text{}_{2}$O$\text{}_{4}$ spinels doped with Cr$\text{}^{3+}$ ions are prepared from ZnSO$\text{}_{4}$, Al$\text{}_{2}$(SO$\text{}_{4}$)$\text{}_{3}$, and Cr$\text{}_{2}$(SO$\text{}_{4}$)$\text{}_{3}$. The spinel single phase is detected from X-ray diffraction. Luminescence properties of Cr$\text{}^{3+}$ in ZnAl$\text{}_{2}$O$\text{}_{4}$ were studied by low temperature luminescence and decay measurements. Four luminescence lines at 14570, 14520, 14460, and 14330 cm$\text{}^{-1}$ were found to originate from structure distortion and the line at 14175 cm$\text{}^{-1}$ - from chromium pairs. The broad emission band at about 13540 cm$\text{}^{-1}$ is considered to arise from a new Cr$\text{}^{3+}$ center in ZnCr$\text{}_{2}$O$\text{}_{4}$.