The influence of Pr3+ co-doping on the luminescent properties of Lu2O3:5 mol% Eu films

Uniform and crack free polycrystalline lutetium oxide (Lu2O3:(Eu,Pr)) films were fabricated by Pechini sol–gel method combined with the spin-coating technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscope (AFM) characterizations indicated that the obtained film was composed of polycrystalline cubic Lu2O3 phase with an average grain size around 30 nm. The photoluminescence(PL) spectra and decay performances of the Lu2O3:5 mol% Eu films co-doped by 0–0.5 mol% Pr3+ with different concentrations were characterized. It was found that the afterglow was reduced obviously due to the introduction of 0–0.5 mol% Pr3+ in the Lu2O3:5 mol% Eu films coupled by decrease in the emission intensity at 612 nm. The mechanism of afterglow diminishing was discussed based on the thermoluminescence measurements.