Properties of Combustion Synthesized $SnO_2:Eu^{3+}$ Phosphors

A novel ceramic synthesis technique, combustion synthesis, is explored to produce an orange-emitting $SnO_2:Eu^{3+}$ phosphors. This technique involves a reaction of metal salts with a citric acid as an organic fuel. The variation of the ratio of citric acid to metal introduces change in reaction temperature and atmosphere of the combustion reaction, which in turn influences crystallinity and luminescence properties of the final products significantly. And the heat treatment of the as-synthesized product improved the CL intensity of the products. Especially, the sample treated at above 1100 $^{\circ}C$ shows an orange-emission, which is attributed to the formation of single phase and well-crystallized $SnO_2$:Eu in rutile structure.