Synthesis and optical investigation of systems involving mixed Ce and Er oxides

Abstract

Systems involving cerium and erbium oxides with the composition CeO 2–Er 2O 3 have been synthesized by the Pechini method. Rare earth picrates were used to prepare a polymeric resin with citric acid and glycol ethylene. The solution was heated at 200 °C for 2 h. The precursor powder was then calcined in the temperature range 600–800 °C for 4 h. The oxide system was characterized by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) powder and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Emission spectra have also been measured. XRD indicated that crystalline mixed oxides of CeO 2 and Er 2O 3 are obtained by heat treatment at temperature range 600–800 °C for 4 h. The photoluminescence spectra, under excitation at 488 nm, present a narrow line centered in 545 nm arising from the 4 S 3/2→ 4 I 15/2 transition of the Er 3+ active ion in the crystalline phase.