Synthesis and spectral properties of rare-earth ions-doped nano-sized Y2O3 phosphors

We studied the spectral properties caused by the chemical composition and the particle size in insulating nanocrystals. We synthesized Y2O3:Eu3+ and Y2O3:Eu3+-Gd3+ nanocrystals by using a liquid-phase reaction method with different compositions. The nanocrystals were sintered in air and in oxygen, and the particle sizes and the composition ratios were determined. We also discussed the obtained emission and excitation spectra for various compositions. The obtained results indicate that the photoluminescence in the Y2O3 nanocrystals was influenced by both concentration quenching and the surface effect. The increase in the photoluminescence intensity for the nanocrystals sintered in an oxygen atmosphere was attributed to the pore volume and the surface area of the samples.