Fabrication of 2D photonic crystal assisted Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ thin-film phosphors by direct nano-imprinting

Abstract

The effect of a two-dimensional Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ photonic crystal (PC) pattern on the extraction efficiency of photoluminescence from the underlying Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ thin-film phosphor was investigated. The photonic crystal structure was fabricated using a direct nano-imprint process with a Pechini-type Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ sol as the nano-imprint resin and a patterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp as the mold. The elevated pressure and temperature of the nano-imprinting process converts the Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ sol into a Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ gel resulting in high definition transfer of the 2D patterns of the master template into the gel on top of the Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ thin-film phosphor layer. The extraction efficiency of the 2D Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ gel PC-assisted Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ thin-film phosphor was approximately 3.7 times higher than a non-PC Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ gel coated Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ thin-film phosphor.