On the reasons for low luminescence efficiency in combustion-made Lu2O3:Tb

Nanocrystalline Tb-doped Lu2O3 was prepared via a combustion route. Its low luminescence efficiency could be dramatically increased through post-fabrication heat-treatment. Infrared spectra showed that the main reason for such a behavior, typical of combustion-made phosphors, was the presence of OH-vibrations in the as-made material. The OH-groups responsible for these vibrations could be completely removed only by heating the materials to at least 1500 degreesC. A simple alteration of the synthesis procedure to assure evaporation of water before the combustion step led to a decrease in the OH-vibration intensities. mirrored by a noticeable increase in the emission efficiency of the resultant powder. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.