Effect of co-doping metal ions (Li+, Na+ and K+) on the structural and photoluminescent properties of nano-sized Y2O3:Eu3+ synthesized by co-precipitation method

Nano-sized yttria (Y203) doped with Eu3+ powders were successfully synthesized by co-precipitation method, where the quenching concentration for photoluminescence study of Eu3+ ions is 12 mol% which is much higher than the micro-scaled powders. The effect of changing concentration of co-dopants (Li+, Na+ and K+) along with Eu3+ (12 mol%) is studied on optical properties of Y2O3 nanoparticles. The results showed that the incorporation of these metal ions can further improve the luminescence intensity. The highest emission intensity was observed with 6 mol% of Lr, 2 mol% of Na, and 1 mol% of r doping in Y2O3:Eu3+ (12 mol%) nanoparticles given by the formula (Y0.82mol%Eu0.12mol%Li0.06mol%)(2)O-3, (Y0.86mol%Eu0.12mol%Na0.02mol%)(2)O-3,O- and (Y0.87mol%Eu0.12mol%K0.01mol%)(2)O-3 respectively. The structural, morphological and optical properties were studied by X-ray diffraction, Rietveld refinement, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Photoluminescence spectroscopy. XRD studies followed by Rietveld refinement confirmed the body-centered cubic structure of doped nanophosphors. All the powders were well crystallized and the emission intensity was observed to increase further from quenching concentration of Eu 12 mol% with co-doped samples. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.