Low temperature synthesis of YAG:Eu spheroidal monocrystalline submicron-sized particles

Yttrium aluminum garnet, Y3Al5O12, (YAG), doped with Eu (0–4%) was synthesized reacting appropriate metal nitrates in NaNO2–KNO2 eutectic mixture. Pure cubic garnet phase was formed upon heating for a few hours at temperature as low as 470 °C. The particle sizes of the powders were mostly in the range of 200–300 nm, but a small fraction of material crystallized in particles of about 20–40 nm. Selected area electron diffraction patterns proved that the larger particles are monocrystalline. Excitation and emission spectra of the Eu-doped powders are characteristic for Eu3+ in an oxide host. The most intense luminescence lines are located around 590 nm.