Enhancement of Luminescence Efficiency of Y2O3 Nanophosphor via Core/Shell Structure

Abstract

We successfully fabricated Y2O3:RE3+ (RE = Eu, Tb, and Dy) core and core–shell nanophosphors by the molten salt method and sol–gel processes with Y2O3 core size of the order of 100~150 nm. The structural and morphological studies of the RE3+-doped Y2O3 nanophosphors are analyzed by using XRD, SEM and TEM techniques, respectively. The concentration and annealing temperature dependent structural and luminescence characteristics were studied for Y2O3:RE3+ core and core–shell nanophosphors. It is observed that the XRD peaks became narrower as annealing temperature increased in the core–shell nanophosphor. This indicates that annealing at higher temperature improves the crystallinity which in turn enhances the average crystallite size. The emission intensity and quantum yield of the Eu3+-doped Y2O3 core and core–shell nanoparticles increased significantly when annealing temperature is varied from 450 to 550 °C. No considerable variation was noticed in the case of Y2O3:Tb3+ and Y2O3:Dy3+ core and core–shell nanophosphors.