The influence of Eu3+ doping on photoluminescent properties of red emitting phosphor YInGe2O7:Eu3+ by microwave assisted and conventional sintering method

This paper describes an investigation of the crystalline morphology and photoluminescent properties of YInGe2O7 powders doped with different Eu3+ concentrations using microwave assisted sintering and conventional sintering. X-ray powder diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of monoclinic YInGe2O7 structure as YInGe2O7:Eu3+ powders were sintered at 1200 degrees C in microwave furnace for 1 h, and the raw material phase of Y2O3 was observed when Eu3+ concentration was below 30 mol%. Scanning electron microscopy showed microwave assisted sintering results in smaller particle size and more uniform grain size distribution. In the photoluminescent (PL) studies, the concentration quenching effect was observed under the excitation at 393 nm, but not under the excitation at CTS band. The D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition (620 nm), exhibits a non-exponential decay behavior as YInGe2O7:Eu3+ powders were sintered by microwave with the Eu3+ concentration higher than 50 mol%. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.