Preparation of Y3Al5O12:Eu powders by microwave-induced combustion process and their luminescent properties

A novel ceramic synthesis technique, microwave-induced combustion process was investigated for the production of Y3Al5O12:Eu powders with improved physical and luminescence properties. This technique involves the reaction of aluminum nitrate (Al(NO3)3·9H2O), yttrium nitrate hexahydrate (Y(NO3)3·6H2O), europium nitrate (Eu(NO3)3·6H2O), and carbohydrazide (CO(N2H3)2) at microwave oven and the whole process took only 30 min. The powders of Y3Al5O12:Eu were further investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and photoluminescence emission spectra (PL). The results showed that the formation temperature of YAG phase is significantly low, compared to solid-state reaction route of constituent oxides. For luminescence property, the emission intensity of YAG doped with 3 mol% Eu synthesized by microwave-induced combustion reaches the maximum emission intensity.