Ceramic luminescent powders with the composition Ca0.96xEu0.04BixSiO3 (x = 0.01–0.05) were prepared
by solution combustion method. The nanopowders are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD),
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy (FTIR) and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. PXRD patterns of calcined (950 C for 3 h)
Ca0.96xEu0.04BixSiO3 powders exhibit monoclinic phase with mean crystallite sizes ranging from 28 to
48 nm. SEM micrographs show the products are foamy, agglomerated and fluffy in nature due to the large
amount of gases liberated during combustion reaction. TEM micrograph shows the crystalline characteristics
of the nanoparticles. Upon 280 nm excitation, the photoluminescence of the Ca0.96xEu0.04BixSiO3
particles show red emission at 611 nm corresponding to 5D0?7F2 transition. It is observed that PL intensity
increases with Bi3+ concentration. Our work demonstrates very interesting energy transfer from Bi3+
to Eu3+ in CaSiO3 host.