Characterization and photoluminescence of Lu2O3-Eu3+ nano-phosphor prepared by modified solution combustion method

Nanoscale Lu2O3:Eu3+ phosphor was prepared by a modified solution combustion method using urea and acrylamide monomer. The particle sizes and photoluminescent properties of nano-phosphor were closely related to the molar ratio of urea-to-RE nitrates and acrylamide monomer-to-RE nitrates. The as-prepared samples with the sizes of 9.6-11.6 nm were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometer. Lu2O3:Eu3+ nano-phosphor that depicted high photoluminescence in the size around 10 nm was reported. Compared with the sample prepared by solid state reaction, the photoluminescence of sample was increased sufficiently to be 45.1%. The emission spectra of the samples presented the typical emission from D-5(0) level to F-7(J) (J=0, 1, 2, 3, 4) level of the Eu3+ ion.