Sol-gel synthesis and luminescence property of nanocrystalline y ₂O₃: Eu phosphor using metal nitrate precursors

We synthesized nanocrystalline Y₂O₃:Eu phosphor by a novel sol-gel route using simple metal nitrates and alcohols as the starting materials instead of oxide powders and nitric acid. The structural characteristics and luminescence properties of the sol-gel derived nanocrystalline Y₂O₃: Eu phosphor were studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence measurement. The crystallized crystal size increased from 7 to 55 nm as the firing temperature was increased from 500 to 1000°C. The red-emitting luminescence dominated by the ⁵D₀-⁷F ₂ transition of the Eu³⁺ ions. The intensity of the red luminescence increased with increasing firing temperature, and concentration quenching was observed with increasing Eu³⁺ concentration.