Photoluminescence properties of Y3Al5O12:Eu nanocrystallites prepared by co-precipitation method using a mixed precipitator of NH4HCO3 and NH3•H2O

Europium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12:Eu, YAG:Eu) nanocrystallites were prepared by calcining the precursors obtained via a co-precipitation method using a mixed solution of NH4HCO3 and NH3 center dot H2O as the precipitator. The results of XRD, FTIR and thermal analysis showed that phase-pure YAG:Eu without any other phases was obtained at 900 degrees C. TEM results indicated that the particle sizes are 50-100 nm. YAG:Eu nanocrystallites showed four emission bands ascribed to D-5(0) -> F-7(1) transition (592 and 597 nm) and D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition (611 and 633 nm) of Eu3+, respectively. The intensity of the magnetic dipole transition (D-5(0) -> F-7(1)) is stronger than that of the electric dipole transition (D-5(0) -> F-7(2)). The influence of the precipitators with different molar ratios of NH4HCO3 to NH3 center dot H2O on the thermal properties of the as-prepared precursors and luminescent properties of the resulting YAG:Eu nanocrystallites was also investigated. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.