Effect of ultrasound treatment on the morpho-structural and luminescent characteristics of cerium doped yttrium silicate phosphors

•Y2SiO5:Ce is prepared by gel combustion in ultrasound conditions (US).•Morpho-structural characteristics are revealed based on FTIR, SEM, XRD, BET.•Incorporation of Ce3+ in X1/X2 type centers depends on preparative conditions.•US treatment increases the luminescent performances up to 151%.

Cerium activated yttrium silicate (Y2SiO5:Ce) phosphors were prepared by gel-combustion, using yttrium–cerium nitrate as oxidizer, aspartic acid as fuel and TEOS as source of silicon. Two modalities for samples preparation were approached namely: the classical gel-combustion and sonication gel-combustion. The ultrasound treatment during the gelling stage has a positive effect on the structural and luminescent characteristics of the final product. Therefore, a well crystallized single X2–Y2SiO5 phase phosphor was obtained at 1200 °C. Based on FT-IR and XRD investigations, conversion of X1 to X2–Y2SiO5 phases is observed as the firing temperature is varied (1100 °C, 1200 °C, 1300 °C 1400 °C). The ultrasound treatment leads to smaller particle size and enhances the luminescent performances up to 151% in comparison with samples prepared by classical way.

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