On tuning the spectroscopic properties of LaAlO3:Pr3+ nanocrystallites

In this study we report the preparation and spectroscopic properties of nanosized crystallites LaAlO3 doped with Pr3+ (1 mol%) and traces of Cr3+ ions, produced by the precipitation method. A new material has been obtained whose spectroscopic properties differ nominally from the same bulk of LaAlO3:Pr3+. It was observed that with increase in the nano-LaAlO3 sample diameter above 110 nm the perovskite structure changes from cubic to rhombohedral. As a result, the bigger samples have two orders of magnitudes of higher emission intensity when compared to the smaller ones. - Research Highlights: →Nano crystallites LaAlO3:Pr3+ (1 mol%) were produced by the precipitation method. →At 300 K the symmetry of the LaAlO3 crystallite structure depends on their size. →It changes from cubic to rhombohedral with increase of the nano crystallite size. →LaAlO3:Pr3+ at rhombohedral structure has 100 times stronger emission than cubic one. →The Cr3+ ions (0.005 mol%) were used as a sensor of the rhombohedral distortion.