Synthesis and luminescence of europium doped yttria nanophosphors via a sucrose-templated combustion method

Nanocrystalline Y₂O₃:Eu phosphors have been successfully synthesized by a novel combustion method using sucrose as a chelating agent and fuel. The sucrose hydrolysation and complexing mechanisms are discussed. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the cubic phase can be formed at a low temperature of 400°C, and transmission electron microscopy observations revealed that the phosphor particles were 30-50 nm annealed at 1000°C. The post-treated Y₂O₃:Eu nanophosphors yield intense red emission at 610 nm, corresponding to the ⁵D ₀-⁷F₂ transitions. The luminescence properties of the Y₂O₃:Eu particles were strongly affected by the annealing temperatures and the sucrose to metal ion ratios. This work demonstrates that the sucrose combustion process can be a quasi-universal medium for the preparation of nanoscale phosphors.