Y2O3:Eu3+ (5 mol%) with Ag nanoparticles prepared by citrate precursor

Y2O3:Eu3+ (5 mol% Eu3+) and Y2O3:Eu3+ (5 mol% Eu3+) containing 1 mol% of Ag nanoparticles were prepared by heat treatment of a viscous resin obtained via citrate precursor. TEM and EDS analyses showed that Y2O3:Eu3+ (5 mol% Eu3+) is formed by nanoparticles with an average size of 12 nm, which increases to 30 nm when Ag is present because the effect of metal induced crystallization occurs. Ag nanoparticles with a size of 9 nm dispersed in Y2O3:Eu3+ (5 mol% Eu3+) were obtained and the surface plasmon effect on Ag nanoparticles was observed. The emission around 612 nm assigned to the Eu3+ (5D0→7F2) transition enhanced when the Ag nanoparticles were present in the Y2O3:Eu3+ luminescent material.

Graphical abstractThe presence of Ag nanoparticles together Y2O3:Eu3+ 5 mol% phosphor showed to affect directly the optical and crystallinity of the material. Luminescence spectra show directly the effect observed.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide