Evaluation of luminescent properties and detection of Eu2+ in nanostructured particles of Gd2-x EuxO3 system (x=0.05, 0.10 and 0.30)

Spray Pyrolysis (SP) is performed at 700 degrees C in dry air atmosphere using common nitrate aqueous solutions (0,1M) as precursor in order to obtain nanostructured particles with the composition Gd2-xEuxO3 (x= 0.05, 0.10 and 0.30). In this work, three samples with different atomic europium concentration (1, 2 and 6%) were studied. After, the obtained particles were subjected to different thermal treatments with varying temperatures between 800 and 1000 degrees C/12 h in dry air atmosphere. The obtained particles were characterized by XRD, SEM techniques, laser dispersion and steady state fluorescence spectroscopy. The existence of two cubic phases with different symmetry cubic phases (Ia-3, Fm-3m) was identified within the as-prepared samples. Moreover, the presence of Gd2O3 monoclinic phase (C-2/m) which disappears during the thermal treatments was proved. In all thermally treated samples, it was observed the stabilization of an only Ia-3 phase. Fluorescence emission measurements in all studied samples the presence of Eu2+ (lambda= 430nm), whose intensity increases as long as the content of the monoclinic phase decreases of the Eu3+ percentage.