Preparation and characterization of Luminescent nanostructured Gd2O3-Y2O3:Eu synthesized by the solution combustion process

Microwave-assisted combustion of Europium doped Y2O3-Gd2O3 was investigated using glycine, glucose, glycerol and citric acid as organic fuel. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) techniques were used to characterize the nanostructured Gd2O3-Y2O3:Eu. The average crystallite size was in the range of 15 to 45nm. The formation of sponge-like morphologies was confirmed by SEM-TEM images and optimized with glucose and glycine fuels. Glycine fuel was enhanced specific surface area of synthesized sample (7.11 m(2)/g) as compared to other organic fuel. Gd 4d, Gd 3d and Y 3d peaks were appeared as a strong XPS signal which indicated complete oxidation of Gd and Y in sample. The main emission peaks of photoluminescence spectra which are related to the electric and magnetic dipole transitions were in D-5(0)-> F-7(2) (610 nm) and D-5(0)-> F-7(1) (590nm) electron transitions. Glycine sample as a fuel earned the highest emission intensity of red appearance in CIE diagram by one-step combustion synthesis. Photoluminescence property europium doped Y2O3-Gd2O3 was improved using glycine as a fuel.