Correlation of the structure and the luminescence properties of Eu 3+-doped Gd 2O 3 oxide between fiber single crystal and the nano-size powders

Abstract

Gd 2− x Eu x O 3 powder materials doped with Eu 3+ using different concentration from x=0 to 2 were prepared by a new sol-lyophilization synthesis and fiber single crystal (Gd 2O 3–Gd 2O 3/Eu 3+) oxides were grown using laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG) technique. X-ray powder diffraction performed at room temperature showed that the materials obtained by lyophilization technique are cubic, lies in the nanometer range and different from bulk materials. The materials are a continued solid solution and the lattice parameter a-axis increases with Eu 3+ concentration. The fibers grown by LHPG technique were single crystal, transparent, red in color when Eu 3+ concentration is high, and the structure is monoclinic for Eu 3+<15%. The luminescence of Eu 3+ from C 2 crystallographic site was been detected. In the case of nano-particles oxide, an additional peak in emission spectral is obtained at λ=610 nm. The influence of Eu 3+, particles sizes and the structure on the luminescence spectral of Eu 3+ ions was been described.