Structural and spectroscopic studies of Eu3+ doped Lu2O3–Gd2O3 solid solutions

Abstract

A series of europium doped (LuxGd1−x)2O3 (x=1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 and 0) nanocrystalline powders were prepared using a polymer complex solution method based on a polyethylene glycol (PEG) as fuel. The samples were systematically characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopies and luminescence spectroscopy. The powders consisted of well-crystalline, cubic phase nanoparticles of 20–50nm in size, which unit cell parameter increased with Gd content complying with Vegard’s law. Upon blue light excitation all samples exhibited strong red luminescence typical of trivalent europium ion. The maximum splitting of the 7F1 manifold changed linearly with the composition change and decreased with lowering of the crystal field strength. Relatively long lifetime values were obtained for 5D0 (∼1.4ms) and 5D1 (∼120μs) levels. For all samples we estimated theoretical densities, refractive index coefficients, optical filling factors and Zeff, in order to estimate the Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters and branching ratios. The calculated lifetime of 5D0 level was in line with experimentally obtained luminescence lifetime values. Relative integrated emissions were measured on all samples and Gd2O3 sample proved to have a maximum amount of the characteristic Eu3+ luminescence.