Dopant distribution and influence of sonication temperature on the pure red light emission of mixed oxide phosphor for solid state lighting

•(Y, Gd)2O3: Eu3+ phosphors were prepared by the sonochemical method at various growth temperatures.•The formation and growth mechanisms in the sonochemical synthesis are discussed in detail.•The compositional identification and dopants distribution was studied by TOFSIMS analysis.•Spectroscopic and colorimetric studies were carried out via Judd–Ofelt theory.•Red emission with high efficiency, gain and purity makes it suitable for lighting applications.

In this study, europium doped yttrium gadolinium (Y1.4Gd0.5Eu0.1O3) mixed oxide phosphors were synthesized by a sonochemical method at different growth temperatures (50 °C, 100 °C, 150 °C and 200 °C) for pure red light emission applications. The compositional identification, presence of dopants and the distribution of doping materials in the crystal lattice was studied by TOF-SIMS. The formation and growth mechanisms in the sonochemical synthesis of Y1.4Gd0.5Eu0.1O3 nanophosphors are discussed in detail. Different spectral and Judd–Ofelt parameters were estimated from photoluminescence data. Optical gain and efficiency parameters were calculated with the variation of synthesis environment and an efficient synthesis method to make good red emitting phosphors for solid-state lighting and display applications were proposed.