Microwave assisted synthesis of monodispersed Y2O3 and Y2O3:Eu3+ particles

• Monodisperse spherical Y2O3 and Y2O3:Eu3+ nanocrystalline particles with particle size between 100 nm and 350 nm were successfully prepared by microwave assisted urea precipitation method followed by a thermochemical treatment. Fast microwave heating, controlled decomposition of urea and burst nucleation of metal ions in aqueous solution led to the formation of non-aggregated spherical particles with narrow size dispersion. The particle size and size dispersion was controlled by adjusting the urea/metal ions ratio, the metal ions concentration, the reaction time and the temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the as prepared particles have Y(OH)CO3 composition, which converted to highly crystalline cubic Y2O3 after calcination at temperatures above 600 degrees C. The calcined Y2O3 particles preserved the spherical morphology of the as prepared particles and exhibited polycrystalline structure. The size of the crystallites increased from similar to 8 nm to similar to 37 nm with the increase of the calcination temperature from 500 degrees C to 900 degrees C. In order to transform these nanostructures to luminescent composition, Eu3+ doping has been performed. Y2O3:Eu3+ particles inherited the morphology and polycrystalline structure of the host Y2O3 particles. Photoluminescence (PL) analysis of Y2O3:Eu3+ particles showed a strong red emission peak at 613 nm corresponding to D-5(0)-F-7(2) forced electric dipole transition of Eu3+ ions under UV excitation. All these critical characteristics, and being heavy-metal free, make these particles useful for bioimaging, and display devices.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Calcination

Microwave processing

Powders: chemical preparation

Optical properties

Y2O3

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