Swift heavy ion induced photoluminescence studies in Aluminum oxide.

Aluminum oxide, a promising material for high temperature applications, is synthesized by combustion route and characterized by X-ray diffraction technique. Photoluminescence of aluminum oxide bombarded with 120 MeV swift Au9+ ions have been studied at room temperature. The observed PL emission with peak at ∼420 nm is attributed to F-center while the two more weak emissions with peaks at ∼482 and ∼525 nm are attributed to aggregates of F-centers. It is found that PL intensity increases with increase in Au9+ ion fluence up to ∼1×1013 ions cm-2 and thereafter it reaches saturation. The Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy results show the destruction of Al-O-H bonds whereas the XRD results indicate the surface amorphization of Al2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]