Synthesis and characterization of monodisperse Eu3+ doped gadolinium oxysulfide nanocrystals

Gd2O2S:Eu3+ nanoparticles were synthesized using two step process consisting of sulfuration of basic carbonates obtained by homogenous precipitation. Annealing of lanthanide nitrates at total concentration of 5×10−3 mol/L in a water solution containing relatively high, three molar concentration of urea ensured the optimal conditions for the reproducible preparation of uniform and small spherical particles. During sulfuration step elemental sulfur was mixed with precursor which eliminated necessity of using an auxiliary furnace and provided sulfur-reach reaction atmosphere. Such optimized protocol afforded synthesis of spherical and non-agglomerated nanoparticles with diameter smaller than 100 nm. The precursors morphology was maintained, but particles size was reduced by 15%–20% during sulfuration. The results indicated that higher emission intensity was observed for Gd2O2S:Eu3+(8%) oxysulfide sample synthesized using crystalline Gd(CO3)OH precursor, than for that obtained from amorphous Gd2(OH)2(CO3)2·H2O precursor, although some further efforts to improve morphology of the former are still required.

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