Preparation and spectroscopic characterization of Lu2O3:Eu3+ nanopowders and ceramics

Nanocrystalline Lu2O3 doping with different Eu3+ concentrations was prepared by co-precipitation method. The crystal structure and morphology were analyzed by means of XRD and HRTEM. The resultant powders were sintered into translucent ceramics in vacuum and then in nitrogen without any additive. The surface morphology of the unpolished sintered specimens was characterized using SEM. The excitation and emission spectra of Lu2O3:Eu3+ powders and ceramics were measured at room temperature by using synchrotron radiation as the light source. Pronounced changes of the spectroscopic properties with increasing Eu3+ content were observed and the reasons were studied. The fluorescent lifetimes of nanopowders shortened obviously with increasing Eu content, but no such effect was observed for the sintered ceramics. Luminescence of ceramics samples decays faster than the corresponding nanopowders.