Synthesis and luminescence properties of phase-pure ultrafine Y 2.9Tb 0.1Al 5− xGa xO 12 phosphors

Abstract

Ultrafine Y 2.9Tb 0.1Al 5− x Ga x O 12 phosphor powders with different Ga concentration were prepared by a nitrate–citrate sol–gel combustion process. Mono-phase cubic phosphors were obtained at 900 °C by directly crystallizing from amorphous materials determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and no intermediate phase was observed. The resultant phosphor powders heat-treated at 1000 °C are uniform with good dispersity and the particle size is about 80 nm. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Tb 3+ substituted for Y 3+ in Yttrium aluminum garnet (Y 3Al 5O 12, YAG) with different Ga concentrations were measured on samples calcined at 1000 °C. The luminescence intensity was effectively improved because of the replacement of Al with Ga in YAG.