Structural and spectroscopic characterization of irreversible phase changes in rapidly heated precursors of europium-doped titania nanoparticles

We observe temperature-dependent phase changes in a precursor of europium-doped titania (p-Eu:TiO2) that is prepared via precipitation and is laser-heated to temperatures between 473 K and 1246 K within sub-second heating durations. The phase changes are characterized using X-ray diffraction and site-selective photoluminescence spectroscopy. We find that upon heating, the initially amorphous p-Eu:TiO2 first transforms into the anatase phase and then into a mixed anatase/rutile phase. These phase transformations change the local environment of the dopant Eu3+ ions resulting in modifications to the Eu3+ ions spectroscopic properties, with the modifications occurring for calcination temperatures above approximately 573 K following sub-second durations. These results demonstrate the temperature sensing ability of p-Eu:TiO2 nanoparticles for use in sub second heating events. Moreover, at 573 K this temperature is lower than other host materials that we have evaluated (i.e., La2O3, ZrO2 and Y2O3).