Nano-sized Gd2O3Eu Phosphor Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis

Abstract

<TEX>$Gd_2$</TEX><TEX>$O_3$</TEX>:Eu phosphor particles with nano-sized and non-aggregation characteristics were prepared by spray pyrolysis using the spray solution containing polymeric precursor and <TEX>$Li_2$</TEX><TEX>$CO_3$</TEX> flux material. Nano-sized <TEX>$Gd_2$</TEX><TEX>$O_3$</TEX>:Eu phosphor particles had higher brightness than the commercial <TEX>$Y_2$</TEX><TEX>$O_3$</TEX>:Eu phosphor particles. The <TEX>$Gd_2$</TEX><TEX>$O_3$</TEX>:Eu phosphor particles had nano-size and non-aggregation characteristics after heat-treatment at <TEX>$1000^{\circ}C$</TEX> when the addition amount of <TEX>$Li_2$</TEX><TEX>$CO_3$</TEX> flux was 1 wt.% and 3 wt.%. The mean size of particles were 200 nm and 400 nm when the amount of flux was 1 wt.% and 3 wt.%, respectively. The prepared phosphor particles had higher photoluminescence intensity than that of the commercial product regardless of the content of<TEX>$ Li_2$</TEX><TEX>$CO_3$</TEX> flux and had the maximum brightness when the content of flux was 5 wt %. The photoluminescence intensity of the nano-sized <TEX>$Gd_2$</TEX><TEX>$O_3$</TEX>:Eu phosphor particles containing 3 wt.% <TEX>$Li_2$</TEX><TEX>$CO_3$</TEX> flux was 125% in comparison with that of the micron-sized <TEX>$Y_2$</TEX><TEX>$O_3$</TEX>:Eu commercial product.