Solution combustion synthesized Y2O3 nanoparticles and influence of Dy doping on their microstructural, optical, and photoluminescence characteristics

Abstract

AbstractDy‐doped Y2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized by solution combustion route with urea as fuel, and their microstructural features were analyzed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The XRD study confirms the formation of a pure cubic phase of Y2O3, with the maximum textural coefficient along the (2 2 2) plane for the Dy‐doped samples. The lattice fringes in the HRTEM image and the bright spotty rings in the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern reveal the highly crystalline nature of the nanoparticles. From the diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, using Kubelka‐Monk theory, the direct bandgap energy is estimated to be 5.61 eV for the undoped Y2O3, which is found to decrease upon Dy3+ doping. The room‐temperature excitation spectra of the nanoparticles recorded at 575 nm emission wavelength comprise several excitation bands corresponding to the f‐f transitions of Dy3+ ions in the host lattice. The photoluminescence spectra of the nanoparticles excited at the wavelength of 350 nm comprise three visible emission peaks at 477 nm (blue), 573 nm (yellow), and 666 nm (red). It has been concluded that the 0.5 mol% Dy‐doped Y2O3 nanoparticles are the potential candidate to be used for solid‐state luminescent device applications.