Preparation and characterization of Y₂O₃:Eu phosphors by combustion process

Europium-doped yttrium phosphors were successfully synthesized by combustion process using yttrium nitrate hexahydrate [Y(NO₃)₃·6H₂O], europium nitrate [Eu(NO₃)₃·6H₂O], and carbohydrazide [CO(N₂H₃)₂]. The process takes only a few minutes to obtain Y₂O₃:Eu phosphors. The resultant powders annealed at different temperature and were investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), differential thermal analyzer/thermogravimeter (DTA/TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra (PL), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the formation temperature of Y₂O₃ phase is significant low, compared to solid-state reaction route of constituent oxides. For luminescence property, the emission intensity of Y₂O₃:Eu phosphors synthesized by combustion process increases steadily with increasing europium amount from 1 mol% to 5 mol%.