Photoluminescence imaging of Eu(III) doped Y2O3 nanorods on a Si substrate deposited by an electrospray technique

• Eu(III)-doped Y2O3 nanorod was synthesized by a hydrothermal method.
• Eu(III)-Y2O3 nanorod was deposited onto a Si substrate by electrospray technique.
• Photoluminescence (PL) imaging was obtained for electrospray and powder samples.
• For electrospray film, PL was only observed by an indirect excitation unlike power.
• Interfacial electronic structures were examined before and after annealing.

Eu(III)-doped Y2O3 nanorods were deposited onto a Si substrate by an electrospray technique and the photoluminescence imaging profiles of the electrospray film and powder form were compared. The electrospray method enabled generation of a uniform monolayer film without much clustering of nanorods. Strong emission peaks were observed between 580 and 730 nm in response to an indirect excitation transition and assigned to 5D0 → 7FJ (J = 0–4) transitions of Eu(III) ions embedded at the C2 symmetry site in Y2O3. No emission in response to the direct excitation transition of Eu(III) ions was observed, while light was emitted from the Eu(III)-doped Y2O3 powder. Taken together, these findings indicate that the electrospray technique could be very useful for generating thin films for displays and sensors.