Color tunable emission from (GdxY1−x)2O3: Er3+, Yb3+ phosphor prepared by combustion method

The (GdxY1−x)2O3: Er3+, Yb3+ [x=0.0, 0.1, 0.5, 0.9, 1.0] phosphor samples with 0.5 mol% concentration of Er3+ and 3.0 mol% of Yb3+, have been prepared using combustion route. The effect of variation of composition on the morphology, crystallinity and photoluminescence characteristics of the material has been investigated. The samples were post-heated at a temperature 1200 °C, for 5 h. We find systematic color tunability from red to green with an increase of Gd2O3 content in Y2O3 lattice. Further, the post-heated samples show an enhancement of fluorescence intensity for more than fifteen times. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), photoluminescence measurement and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques in order to find out the structural changes in host lattice. An increase in crystallite size has been marked with increasing Gd content while FTIR analysis explains the reason of variation in the fluorescence of rare earth ions in different host matrices.

► (GdxY1−x)2O3: Er3+, Yb3+ phosphor has been prepared by combustion method. ► Effect of composition variation on different aspects of the material has been explored. ► An increment in crystallite size has been observed with increasing Gd content. ► Post-heated samples show better fluorescence compared to its as-prepared parts. ► Systematic color emission from red to green has been observed with Gd content.