Structural and photoluminescence studies of Eu3+ doped cubic Y2O3 nanophosphors

Structural and photoluminescence properties of undoped and Eu3+ doped yttrium oxide (Y2O3:Eu3+) nanoparticles heat-treated at 600 and 900 °C were reported. Three concentrations of Eu3+ (1, 3 and 5 mol%) were doped in Y2O3. The heat-treated Y2O3:Eu3+ nanoparticles were cubic in structure without any impurity phase as studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The samples showed high crystallinity and average particle size was in the range of 10–16 nm and 20–25 nm when annealed at 600 and 900 °C respectively. The 900 °C annealed Y2O3:Eu3+ exhibited a strong red photoluminescence due to homogeneously occupied Eu3+ ions in the Y2O3 lattice and high crystallinity. The PL lifetime decreases with the dopant concentration from of 2.26 to 1.77 ms and from 2.35 to 1.81 ms in the case of 600 and 900 °C annealing respectively. Emission becomes faster with higher loading of Eu3+. Strong photoluminescence characteristics at most commonly available UV-blue excitation wavelengths make these phosphors suitable for LEDs and other display applications.