Eu3+ and Tb3+ codoped Y2O3 Nanocrystals Prepared By Pechini-Type Sol-Gel Process

RE-doped Y2O3 system are some of the most important optical materials: having high luminescence efficiency, chemical and thermal stability, they are used in the production of optoelectronic devices such as laser materials, energy conversion devices, display panels, bio imaging probes and anti-counterfeiting tags. In this work we report an optical study of Eu3+ and Tb3+ codoped Y2O3 nanocrystals synthesized by Pechini-type sol-gel method. The particles have been investigated in terms of size and morphology by means of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, showing how the simple Pechini method allows the growth of monocrystalline nanoparticles. Moreover the optical properties of Eu3+ and Tb3+ in the host lattice are studied in terms of PL, PLE and lifetimes as a function of their concentration and interaction. In particular an efficient energy transfer between the two ions occurs in co-doped samples, increasing the optical emission in the red spectral region. Detailed analysis of the morphological and optical properties of the system is reported, demonstrating the feasibility of the method to easily obtain efficient red nanophosphors.