Combustion synthesis of Eu3+ activated Y3Al5O12 phosphor nanoparticles

The precursor powders of EU activated by a combustion process with urea as a fuel, Y3Al5O12 (YAG:Eu), are prepared. Sintering the precursor powders at 1200 degreesC for 2 h, YAG:Eu phosphor is synthesized. The diffraction profile of as-prepared YAG:Eu phosphor can be indexed as a garnet structure, as revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. Grains of YAG:Eu phosphor appear to be elliptical and their sizes range from 60 to 90 nm, as indicated by morphological studies from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The luminescent intensities of the YAG:Eu phosphor strongly depend on the additional quantities of urea and the concentration of Eu3+. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.