Microwave synthesis of Y2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors : A study on the influence of dopant concentration and calcination temperature on structural and photoluminescence properties

• Red fluorescent emitting monodispersed spherical Y2O3 nanophosphors with different Eu3+ doping concentrations (0-13 mol%) are synthesized by a novel microwave assisted urea precipitation, which is recognized as a green, fast and reproducible synthesis method. The effect of Eu3+ doping and calcination temperature on the structural characteristics and luminescence properties of particles is investigated in detail. The as prepared powders have (Y,Eu)(OH)(CO3) structure which converts to Y2O3:Eu3+ from 500 °C and become crystalline at higher temperatures. The crystallite size of nanophosphors increased from 15 nm to 25 nm as the calcination temperature increased from 700 °C to 1050 °C. The efficient incorporation of Eu3+ ions in cubic Y2O3 host matrix is confirmed by the calculated X-ray Powder diffraction (XRPD) structural parameters. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs show that the as obtained and calcined particles are spherical, monodispersed and non-agglomerated. The overall size of particles increases from 61±8 nm to 86±9 nm by increasing Eu3+ concentration from 0 mol% to 13 mol%. High resolution TEM revealed polycrystalline nature of calcined particles. The particles exhibit a strong red emission under ultraviolet (UV) excitation. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the peaks increases proportionally with Eu3+ concentration and the calcination temperature with no luminescence quenching phenomenon observed even for Y2O3:13%Eu3+. The fluorescent emission properties combined with the monodispersity and narrow size distribution characteristics make the Y2O3:Eu3+ heavy metal free nanophosphors applicable in fluorescence cell imaging and as fluorescence biolabels.

Ämnesord

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

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Nano-technology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Chemical synthesis

Luminescence

Microstructure

Optical properties

Phosphors

Rare earth compounds

Calcination

Chemical compounds

Crystallite size

Electron microscopy

Fluorescence

Heavy metals

High resolution transmission electron microscopy

Light emission

Photoluminescence

Powder metals

Scanning electron microscopy

Structural properties

Synthesis (chemical)

Transmission electron microscopy

Urea

X ray powder diffraction

Calcination temperature

Luminescence properties

Luminescence quenching

Narrow size distributions

Photoluminescence intensities

Photoluminescence properties

Structural characteristics

Ultraviolet excitations

Europium

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