Influence of Time-Temperature Parameters on the Structure and Photoluminescence of (Y1−xEux)2O3 Crystalline Spheres

• Published in: Journal of materials engineering and performance Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 859 - 863
• Main Authors: Bezkrovnyi, O. S., Yermolayeva, Yu. V., Matveevskaya, N. A., Danylenko, M. I., Baumer, V. N., Parkhomenko, S. V., Tolmachev, A. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.02.2015
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Corrosion and Coatings; Engineering Design; Materials Science; Quality Control; Reliability; Safety and Risk; Tribology; morphological stability; phosphors; segregation; rare earth compounds
• ISSN: 1059-9495; 1544-1024
• DOI: 10.1007/s11665-014-1286-z

In this paper, sphere-like (Y 1− x Eu x ) 2 O 3 nanocrystalline particles with ( x  = 0.02;0.05;0.06;0.07;0.08, and 0.09) were obtained by the urea-based homogeneous precipitation technology followed by low-temperature crystallization from 600 to 900 °C. The structure and morphology of the (Y 1− x Eu x ) 2 O 3 nanocrystalline particles and thermal stability of the nanocrystalline particles were investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analysis. The structural evaluation was established in relation to thermal conditions of sphere crystallization to ensure maximally effective luminescence of Eu 3+ ions ( 5 D 0  →  7 F 2 transitions) with the morphological stability, the spherical shape of individual nanocrystalline particles remaining unchanged. The crystalline nanospheres were shown to have the threshold of concentration quenching of luminescence shifted toward lower concentrations of Eu 3+ ions in comparison with micropowders of analogous composition. That may be caused by the formation of (Y 1− x Eu x ) 2 O 3 composition with the concentration gradient of Eu 3+ , followed by accumulation of Eu 3+ ions around the grain boundaries.