Wet chemical synthesis and sintering of rare earth phosphate ceramics (Y0.3Ce0.7PO4: Tb) and their green luminescence properties

Hexagonal and monoclinic phase yttrium/cerium phosphates with terbium dopants have been prepared successfully through co-precipitation and calcination approaches. Their crystal structure properties were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Fluorescence excitation and emission spectra exhibited improved luminescence properties by increasing the terbium content in the micron-meter crystals. In addition, Y0.3Ce0.7PO4: Tb was embedded in colloidal sols and strong green emission was obtained in the presence of water atoms or hydroxyl groups.

Research Highlights
► Lanthanide phosphate were prepared at both low and high temperature.
► We have found that the micro-meter particles could be controllable by the simple approaches.
► XRD curves changed regularly according to the change of the doping terbium concentration.