Self-propagating combustion synthesis, luminescent properties and photocatalytic activities of pure Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃: Tb³⁺(Sm³⁺)

The dual-functional Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃: Tb³⁺ and Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃: Sm³⁺ materials were prepared by the Self-Propagating Combustion Synthesis (SPCS) technology. The structure, morphology and light absorption property were investigated by XRD, FT-IR, UV-Vis DRS and SEM etc. The doping of Tb³⁺ and Sm³⁺ ions had not changed cubic structure of Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ but leaded to the slight lattice dilatation and the red-shifts of absorption peaks/edges. The excitation and emission spectra indicated that Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃: Tb³⁺ and Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃: Sm³⁺ are superior green and red luminescent materials, respectively, and it displayed the distinctly refined structure characteristics which had importantly reference value for the energy level investigation of Tb³⁺ and Sm³⁺ ions. Meanwhile, Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃: Tb³⁺ and Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃: Sm³⁺ also exhibited the improved photocatalytic degradation for removing dye MB compared with bare Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃.