Electron energy-loss spectroscopy investigation of dopant homogeneity in Tb-doped Y2O3 nanoparticles prepared by solution combustion synthesis

The emergence of nanotechnology imposes a new level of control in the synthesis of materials, one in which the structure and chemistry have to be controlled and characterized at the nanoscale. The solution combustion synthesis method has been used to synthesize many different oxides, including luminescent ones. However, a systematic investigation of the dopant homogeneity at the nanoscale in materials produced by this method is lacking. This is of particular relevance in nanophosphors due to the possibility of concentration quenching. In this work, 5 at.% Tb-doped Y2O3 was prepared by the solution combustion synthesis method and investigated on its structure and chemical composition homogeneity at the nanoscale by means of electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), high resolution TEM, X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence measurements. The results show that it is possible to prepare luminescent materials by the solution combustion synthesis method where the dopant is homogeneously distributed within each nanoparticle.

► Dopant spatial distribution in nanoparticles made by solution combustion synthesis.
► Investigation by EELS line scans in individual nanoparticles.
► Dopant is homogeneously distributed in the nanoparticles.