Solvothermal synthesis and characterization of Eu3+ doped Y2O3 nanocrystals.

A solvothermal refluxing system containing of ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol-hexane mixed organic solvents were used to prepare Eu3+ doped Y2O3 nanocrystals via solvothermal refluxing reaction-calcinations method. In the presence of ethylene glycol, the reaction temperature required for the preparation of Y(OH)3 precursor crystal is 170 degrees C but in ethylene glycol-hexane mixed organic solvents, the synthesis temperature was reduced to 70 degrees C. The Y(OH)3 precursor particles were calcinated at 600-1200 degrees C in air to prepare nanosized Eu3+ doped Y2O3 red phosphor. The as prepared particles by refluxing in ethylene glycol followed by calcination showed 20-60 nm in diameter. For the characterization, XRD, TG-DTA, EDS, FTIR, TEM and PL measurements were employed. The as prepared sample by refluxing in ethylene glycol-hexane mixed solvents exhibited strong red emission around 610 nm under 254 nm xenon light excitation and photoluminescence property was compared with reference sample (5 mol% Eu3+:Y2O3) prepared via conventional co-precipitation method followed by calcinations at 800 degrees C for 5 h in air.