Preparation and luminescence of rare-earth-activated Y2SiO5 thin films by metallorganic decomposition

The clear precursors of MxY2-xSiO5 (M = Eu, Sm, and Ce) were successfully synthesized by a metallorganic decomposition (MOD) technique for the first time. Dense and crack-free yttrium silicate (Y2SiO5)-based thin films appear to have the X-1-Y2SiO5 structure on quartz substrates after annealing above 900 degrees C. The photoluminescence (PL) and triboluminescence (TL) of these films were investigated. Results show that the europium-activated Y2SiO5 thin films possess higher PL and TL properties than the other Y2SiO5 thin films activated with Ce and Sm ions. The PL intensity is so strong that the red light emission at 611 nm is visible to the naked eye. The high TL intensity appears in the pure Y2SiO5 thin film but it does not exist in the bulk material. This indicates that preparation of luminescent films is not only beneficial for the fabrication of a planar display but also for improvement in the luminescent property. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.