Down-conversion luminescence property of Er3+ and Yb3+ co-doped Gd2O3 crystals prepared by combustion synthesis and solid state reaction method

Monoclinic and cubic Gd2O3 phosphor co doped with Er3+ and Yb3+ were prepared by using combustion synthesis and solid state reaction methods. The emission spectra were recorded as the function of Er3+ concentration, Yb3+ concentration, and also as the function of excitation wave length. The optical properties and the morphologies of the phosphors prepared by both the methods have been compared. Average crystal size for the phosphors yielded by both the synthesis routes were in nanometer range, which were confirmed by using XRD, TEM and SEM technique. The morphological studies shows that the phosphors prepared by solid state reaction method is more homogenous and the particle size of these phosphors are larger than the phosphor synthesized by combustion synthesis method. The luminescence intensity of the phosphor prepared by solid state reaction method is more than the phosphor prepared by combustion synthesis method at a particular excitation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.