Luminescent properties of Y2O3:Eu synthesized by sol–gel processing

Metal nitrate aqueous solution was mixed with citric acid to synthesize the red-emission Y2O3:Eu phosphor by sol–gel processing. The samples remained amorphous below 600 °C and crystallized completely at 700 °C. Calcining and grinding were necessary to obtain phosphor with a particle size in the range between 0.5 and 2 μm of regular shape. The emission intensity increased with increasing sintering temperature and the intensity of the phosphor sintered after calcining and grounding decreased in comparison with that obtained by sintering the dry gel directly.