Effects of precipitant on microstructure and luminescent properties of Lu2O3:Eu3+ nanopowders and ceramics

Nanocrystalline Lu2O3:Eu3+ was prepared by co-precipitation method using ammonium hydrogen carbonate and ammonium oxalic acid as precipitants, respectively. The crystal structure and morphology were analyzed by means of XRD and TEM. The resultant powders were sintered into transparent ceramics in vacuum and then in nitrogen without any additive. The surface morphology of the unpolished sintered specimens was characterized using SEM. The effect of different precipitants on microstructure of the nanopowders and transparency of the ceramics are compared. The excitation and emission spectra of Lu2O3:Eu3+ powders and ceramics were measured at room temperature by using synchrotron radiation as the light source. The fluorescence decay times of all specimens were analyzed. Luminescence of the ceramics decays faster than the corresponding nanopowders.