Gd<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>:Eu nanophosphors prepared via reverse micelle processing: Influence of Eu³⁺ content on photoluminescence property

Europium-doped Gadolinia (Eu-Gd2O3) phosphor nanoparticles have been synthesized by a reverse microemulsion system using cyclohexane as the oil phase, a non-ionic surfactant Igepal CO 520 and the mixed aqueous solutions of gadolinium III nitrate hexahydrate and Europium III nitrate hexahydrate as the water phase. The synthesized and calcined powders were characterized by thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD results showed that the powders were cubic phase of Gd 2O3 after being calcined in the air at 1,000°C. DTA and FTIR also evidenced the formation of Gd2O3 at 1,000°C. SEM revealed that the particle size decrease with increase in Eu content. EDS confirmed the presence of Gd and Eu phase in the nanopowders calcined at 1,000°C. The photoluminescence studies indicated that a strong emission peak at 610nm is a characteristic red emission of Eu3+, and the emission intensity increases with increase in Eu content. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.