Yttrium silicate and oxonitridosilicate luminescent materials from a silicone resin and nano-sized fillers

Yttrium silicate and oxonitridosilicate ceramic powders have been successfully prepared by heat treatment, at 1300-1400 °C, of a silicone resin embedding Y2O3 nano-sized particles as reactive fillers. Nano-sized RE-oxides (Eu2O3, CeO2), used as secondary additives, promoted the development of apatite phase, in both air and N2 atmosphere. For treatments in nitrogen, the only crystal phase consisted of yttrium nitrogen apatite, mixed with amorphous silicon oxycarbide (SiOC). Eu-doped and Ce-doped yttrium silicates were characterized by means of UV-visible luminescence and ion beam induced luminescence (IBIL). Strong luminescence features were observed, depending on the conditions of thermal treatment.