A study on the impact of [BO33−], [PO43−] and [SO42−] ions in normal cubic structures via structural and photoluminescence properties of Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphors

Abstract

A series of Y2O3-AG: Eu3+ (where AG = Anionic Groups [PO43−, SO42− and BO33−]) nanophosphors were synthesized via a chemical combustion method and their structural and photoluminescence properties were investigated. The crystal structure and the surface morphology studies were analysed through the X-Ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD results showed that undoped Y2O3 phosphors crystalized in a cubic crystal structure, while the Y2O3-AG phosphors transformed from the pure Y2O3 cubic structures, except for SO42− based phosphor materials. The SEM micrographs showed that the particles were formed in the micrometer range with different sizes and shapes. The FTIR spectra revealed the presence of various structural groups in the Y2O3, Y2O3-AG: Eu3+ phosphors. Moreover, the optical diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated. Using the DRS data, the optical band gap energy values were obtained from the Kubelka-Munk function theory. Upon 395 nm excitation, the Y2O3-AG: Eu3+ phosphors emitted red light at 615 nm wavelength. Among all the samples, the Y2O3-BO3: Eu3+ produced the highest intensity of red-light emission. The International Commission on Illumination color coordinates indicated that these phosphors are potential candidates for producing enhanced red color components in white light-emitting diode (W-LEDs) applications.