Tailoring the particle size from mycrometer to nanometer scale by using a surface modifier and their size effect on the fluorescence properties of europium doped yttria

Abstract

The concept of tailored interfaces has been applied to the synthesis of Eu2O3/Y2O3 powders to achieve a narrow size distribution by using a modifier. It was found that the particle size gradually decreased from 6 µm to 10 nm with an increase in concentration of the modifier from 0 to 10 wt% with respect to Eu2O3/Y2O3. Fluorescence spectra of the sample containing 10 wt% of surface modifier showed approximately a 5-fold enhancement of emission intensity of the 5D0 '-> 7F2 transition of Eu3+. This transition is the characteristic transition of europium for red fluorescence under UV light excitation. The concentration dependence of fluorescence in the range from 0-5 mol% Eu2O3 did not reveal any concentration quenching.