A novel approach for preparation of Y2O3:Eu3+ nanoparticles by microemulsion–microwave heating

A novel approach for preparation of europium (III)-doped yttrium oxide (Y2O3:Eu3+) nanoparticles by microemulsion–microwave heating was reported in this paper. Y2O3:Eu3+ nanoparticles were successfully obtained by microwave-heating the as-prepared particles of yttrium hydroxide and europium hydroxide, formed in a reaction between Y(NO3)3–Eu(NO3)3 and NH3·H2O in the reverse microemulsion composed of Triton X-100, n-hexanol, cyclohexane and water. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the resultant nanoparticles showed a narrow size distribution, small size (20–30 nm) and spherical shape. The ratios of Eu to Y in the products, determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), were in good agreement with those of the feed. The nanoparticles emitted much strong red light at 611 nm under UV excitation, especially around 255 nm. Furthermore, this novel method required a very short heating-time and the energy consumption was much smaller compared with conventional heating ways.