Optical behavior of Eu3+-doped BaTiO3 nano-crystallites prepared by sol-gel method

Eu3+-doped BaTiO3 nano-crystallites with grain sizes 32-38 nm have been obtained by a sol-gel method. It has been found that the luminescence characteristics are strongly dependent on the sintering temperature. Powders sintered at temperatures below 1000 degreesC demonstrate a luminescence behavior at room temperature associated with a lack of the inversion symmetry of Eu3+ sites. Above 1000 degreesC nano-crystallites undergo a phase transition characterized by an inversion symmetry of Eu3+ sites. The size effect of Eu3+ :BaTiO3 nano-crystallites on luminescence characteristics is observed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.