Microwave synthesis of Y2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors: A study on the influence of dopant concentration and calcination temperature on structural and photoluminescence properties

Red fluorescent emitting monodispersed spherical Y2O3 nanophosphors with different Eu3+ doping concentrations (0-13 mol%) are synthesized by a novel microwave assisted urea precipitation, which is recognized as a green, fast and reproducible synthesis method. The effect of Eu3+ doping and calcination temperature on the structural characteristics and luminescence properties of particles is investigated in detail. The as prepared powders have (Y,Eu)(OH)(CO3) structure which converts to Y2O3:Eu3+ from 500 °C and become crystalline at higher temperatures. The crystallite size of nanophosphors increased from 15 nm to 25 nm as the calcination temperature increased from 700 °C to 1050 °C. The efficient incorporation of Eu3+ ions in cubic Y2O3 host matrix is confirmed by the calculated X-ray Powder diffraction (XRPD) structural parameters. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs show that the as obtained and calcined particles are spherical, monodispersed and non-agglomerated. The overall size of particles increases from 61±8 nm to 86±9 nm by increasing Eu3+ concentration from 0 mol% to 13 mol%. High resolution TEM revealed polycrystalline nature of calcined particles. The particles exhibit a strong red emission under ultraviolet (UV) excitation. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the peaks increases proportionally with Eu3+ concentration and the calcination temperature with no luminescence quenching phenomenon observed even for Y2O3:13%Eu3+. The fluorescent emission properties combined with the monodispersity and narrow size distribution characteristics make the Y2O3:Eu3+ heavy metal free nanophosphors applicable in fluorescence cell imaging and as fluorescence biolabels.