Optical properties of Eu3+ in transparent Y–Ti–O nanocrystallized sol–gel film

Transparent Y–Ti–O nanocrystallized layer was formed in Eu3+ doped sol–gel film after annealing at 600 °C. The crystalline particles have been proved to be a single cubic phase of Y–Ti–O and the mean size is identified to be 15.3 nm. Red fluorescence was clearly observed under the excitation of UV radiation. Experimental intensity parameters Ω2 and Ω4 of the Eu3+ doped nanocrystallized film system are calculated to be 4.02 × 10−20 and 2.17 × 10−20 cm2, respectively, indicating a lack of the inversion symmetry of Eu3+ sites and an average covalent environment surrounding Eu3+ ions. The controllable homogeneous Y–Ti–O nanocrystallizations in the sol–gel films provide possibilities in developing illumination, display, optical detection and light conversion devices.