Structural and spectroscopic studies of Eu3+ doped Lu2O3–Gd2O3 solid solutions

• Published in: Optical materials Vol. 36; no. 6; pp. 1083 - 1091
• Main Authors: Krsmanović Whiffen, Radenka M., Antić, Željka, Speghini, Adolfo, Brik, Mikhail G., Bártová, Barbora, Bettinelli, Marco, Dramićanin, Miroslav D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.04.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Gd2O3; Lu2O3; Nanophosphors; Optical materials; Optical properties; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optics; Photoluminescence; Physics; Rare earths; Sesquioxides; Lu2O3; Sesquioxides; Rare earths; Optical properties; Nanophosphors; Gd2O3; Refractive index; Europium ions; Luminescence; XRD; Polyethylene glycols; O; Ethylene oxide polymer; Nanoparticles; Europium additions; Visible radiation; Polymers; Europium; Nanocrystal; Powders; Doped materials; Binary compounds; Lu; Crystal field; Gadolinium Oxides; Lifetime; Transmission electron microscopy; Solid solutions; Phosphors; Optical materials; Blue light; Nanostructured materials; Gd
• ISSN: 0925-3467; 1873-1252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2014.01.039

[Display omitted] •Eu3+ doped (LuxGd1−x)2O3 were produced via PEG modified combustion synthesis.•Highly crystallized, irregularly shaped nanoparticles had an average size of 30nm.•The max photoluminescence emission was observed for the Gd2O3 sample.•Obtained mixed nanopowders are appropriate precursors for scintillating ceramics. A series of europium doped (LuxGd1−x)2O3 (x=1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 and 0) nanocrystalline powders were prepared using a polymer complex solution method based on a polyethylene glycol (PEG) as fuel. The samples were systematically characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopies and luminescence spectroscopy. The powders consisted of well-crystalline, cubic phase nanoparticles of 20–50nm in size, which unit cell parameter increased with Gd content complying with Vegard’s law. Upon blue light excitation all samples exhibited strong red luminescence typical of trivalent europium ion. The maximum splitting of the 7F1 manifold changed linearly with the composition change and decreased with lowering of the crystal field strength. Relatively long lifetime values were obtained for 5D0 (∼1.4ms) and 5D1 (∼120μs) levels. For all samples we estimated theoretical densities, refractive index coefficients, optical filling factors and Zeff, in order to estimate the Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters and branching ratios. The calculated lifetime of 5D0 level was in line with experimentally obtained luminescence lifetime values. Relative integrated emissions were measured on all samples and Gd2O3 sample proved to have a maximum amount of the characteristic Eu3+ luminescence.