Y₂O₃ : Eu³⁺ Microspheres: Solvothermal Synthesis and Luminescence Properties

Y 2 O 3: Eu 3+ microspheres, with an average diameter of 3 μm, were successfully prepared through a large-scale and facile solvothermal method followed by a subsequent heat treatment. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectra, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, inductive coupled plasma atomic absorption spectrometric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectra, as well kinetic decays, and cathodoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the samples. These microspheres were actually composed of randomly aggregated nanoparticles. The formation mechanisms for the Y 2 O 3: Eu 3+ microspheres have been proposed on an isotropic growth mechanism. The Y 2 O 3: Eu 3+ microspheres show a strong red emission corresponding to 5 D 0 → 7 F 2 transition (610 nm) of Eu 3+ under ultraviolet excitation (259 nm) and low-voltage electron beams excitation (1−5 kV), which have potential applications in fluorescent lamps and field emission displays.