Sol-gel synthesis and luminescence property of nanocrystalline Y2O3: Eu phosphor using metal nitrate precursors

Abstract

We synthesized nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu phosphor by a novel sol-gel route using simple metal nitrates and alcohols as the starting materials instead of oxide powders and nitric acid. The structural characteristics and luminescence properties of the sol-gel derived nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu phosphor were studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence measurement. The crystallized crystal size increased from 7 to 55 nm as the firing temperature was increased from 500 to 1000 V. The red-emitting luminescence dominated by the D-5(0)-F-7(2) transition of the Eu3+ ions. The intensity of the red luminescence increased with increasing firing temperature, and concentration quenching was observed with increasing Eu3+ concentration.