Optical Properties of Nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu3+

TL;DR

This study investigates the optical properties of nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphors, revealing enhanced emission characteristics and estimating crystal field effects, with implications for nanotechnology applications.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the optical behavior of nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu3+ and introduces a method to estimate crystal field parameters in nanomaterials.

Findings

Maximum emission at 612 nm with 4 at.% Eu doping

Crystalline environment indicated by narrow emission spectrum

Estimated crystal field strength and system temperature from Raman scattering

Abstract

Optical properties of nanocrystalline red-emitting phosphor, Europium doped Yttria (Y$_{2}$O$_{3}$:Eu$^{3+})$, of average particle size 15 nm are investigated. The intensity of the strongest emission line at 612 nm is found to be highest in the nanocrystalline sample with 4 at. wt. % of Europium. The narrow electronic emission spectrum suggests a crystalline surrounding in this nanomaterial. We have estimated the strength of the crystal field parameter at the dopant site, which plays a crucial role in determining the appearance of the intense emission line. The equilibrium temperature of this system has also been calculated from the intensity ratio of Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman scattering. Though known for the bulk samples, our approach and consequent results on the crystalline nanomaterial of Y$_{2}$O$_{3}$:Eu$^{3+}$ provide a unique report, which, we believe, can be of considerable significance in nanotechnology.the intensity ratio of Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman scattering. Though known for the bulk samples, our approach and consequent results on the crystalline, defect/disorder free nanomaterial of Y2O3:Eu3+ provides a unique report which, we believe, can be of considerable significance in nanotechnology.