Synthesis characterization and luminescence studies of 100Â MeV Si8+ ion irradiated sol gel derived nanocrystalline Y2O3

Nanoparticles of pure yttrium oxide (Y2O3) have been prepared by sol gel method. The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern of as synthesized sample showed the amorphous nature. The as synthesized Y2O3 powders are annealed at 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 °C for 2 h. Y2O3 powder heat treated for 600 °C showed cubic phase and the crystallite sizes are found to be ∼13 nm. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed absorption with peaks at 3434, 1724, 1525, 1400, 847, 562 and 465 cm−1. Photoluminescence (PL) of 100 MeV Si8+ ion irradiated samples shows emission with peaks at 417, 432, 465 nm. It is found that PL intensity increases with increasing in ion fluence up to ∼3 × 1012 ions cm−2 and then decreases with further increase in ion fluence. A well resolved thermoluminescence (TL) glow with peak at ∼430 K (Tm1) and an unresolved TL glow with peak at ∼538 (Tm2), 584 K (Tm3) are observed in ion irradiated samples.