Low temperature synthesis and luminescence properties of YAG:Eu nanopowders prepared by modified sol-gel method
(Department of Materials Engineering PO Box 851414313/517,
Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, Isfahan, Iran)
Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, Isfahan, Iran)
Abstract: Europium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet nanopowders were synthesized through an aqueous sol−gel method. The structure, morphology and luminescence spectra were investigated by using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements. The results show that YAG:Eu with an average particle size of 50 nm is formed. The activation energy of YAG:Eu nanocrystallite growth during calcination is 24.1 kJ/mol. The crystalline YAG:Eu nanopowders show an orange−red emission with 5D0–7F1 as the most prominent group.
Key words: nanostructured material; Y3Al5O12 (YAG); sol−gel method; luminescence