Synthesis, characterization and luminescence spectroscopy of oxide nanopowders activated with trivalent lanthanide ions: The garnet family

Abstract

In this review, we deal with the preparation, structural investigation and especially optical spectroscopy of the garnet family of oxide materials activated with trivalent lanthanide ions, in the nanocrystalline form. In particular, attention is devoted here to the important garnet hosts; their synthesis, structure and luminescence spectroscopy are presented and discussed, with particular emphasis given to the possibility of obtaining efficient luminescence from trivalent lanthanide ions at the nanoscale, and to the potential and envisaged technological applications of this class of materials.