Tartaric acid-assisted co-precipitation synthesis of Er3+-doped Lu2O3 nanopowders

Erbium-doped lutetia nanopowders were synthesized by a novel co-precipitation method using tartaric acid as precipitant. The properties of the samples were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), TG-DSC, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and upconversion luminescence analysis. Pure cubic Lu2O3 nanopowders were directly obtained when the precursor was calcined at 800 °C for 2 h, the samples showed strong upconversion luminescence under excitation of 980 nm laser diode.