Influence of sulfuretted temperature on the luminescent properties of Y2O2S:Eu3+, Mg2+, Ti4+ nanoarrays by EDTA complexing sol–gel template method

• Y2O3:Eu3+, Mg2+, Ti4+ nanotube arrays were prepared by sol–gel template method using EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid) as complexing agent to serve as precursor.
• Compared with the Y2O2S:Eu3+, Mg2+, Ti4+ nanoarrays synthesized with sol-gel template method using acetyl acetone as complexing agent, the sample in this paper has a better morphology.
• The optimal sulfuretted temperature has been reduced by 50 °C, and the afterglow has been improved by 14 min.

Y2O3:Eu3+, Mg2+, Ti4+ nanotube arrays were prepared by sol–gel template method using EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid) as complexing agent to serve as precursor. Long-lasting phosphors Y2O2S:Eu3+, Mg2+, Ti4+ nanotube arrays were obtained by calcinating the precursor in the CS2 atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to investigate the effects of sulfuretted temperature on the crystal characteristics, morphology and luminescent properties of Y2O2S:Eu3+, Mg2+, Ti4+ nanoarrays. The results of XRD and EDS reveal that the main phase of sample is Y2O2S when the sulfuretted temperature is 700–850 °C, and the ratio of element Y and S of the sample is very close to 2:1. The SEM observations show that the obtained Y2O2S:Eu3+, Mg2+, Ti4+ nanotube arrays are of uniform size. From the spectrum, the main emission peak lies at 626 nm under the 320 nm excitation, which is ascribed to the transition of Eu3+ ion from 5D0 to 7F2. After irradiation with 365 nm UV (Ultraviolet) radiation for 10 min, the phosphor emitted red long-lasting phosphorescence which could last for about 17 min (⩾1 mcd/m2).