Structural features of Ce doped YAG nanoparticles synthesized by modified sol–gel method

Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) is an extensively used laser host material. Rare-earth doped YAG nanoparticles are promising phosphor materials for display devices. Ce-doped YAG nanoparticles were synthesized by modified sol–gel technique in an aqueous media using citric acid and ethylene glycol as chelating agents. Single phase nanocrystalline material was obtained at 850 °C. It is much lower temperature compared to other similar techniques used for preparing nanoparticles of YAG. The Ce-doping concentration was optimized and kept at 1 mol%. The prepared material was annealed at different temperatures and were characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM techniques to establish the particle sizes and structure. Average particle sizes were found ranging ∼20–50 nm.

► Ce-doped YAG nanoparticles were synthesized by the simple and most convenient modified sol–gel technique.
► The modified sol–gel method consists of a mixture of nitrates in an aqueous media and citric acid and ethylene glycol are used as chelating agents.
► The single phase nanocrystalline Ce:YAG was obtained at reasonably low temperature of 850 °C.
► The doped YAG nanoparticles and characterize them for their structural properties employing XRD, SEM and HRTEM methods.