Preparation of Tb3+-activated Y3Al5O12 monocrystalline nanoparticles using solution combustion technique

Abstract Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), Y 3 Al 5 O 12 , and terbium-activated YAG (YAG:Tb) nanoparticles were synthesized via a facile solution combustion method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were used to characterize the formation and morphology of as-prepared products. The crystallization temperature is about 850 °C and no intermediate phases are observed. The resulting YAG:Tb particles prepared at 1000 °C are monocrystalline with fine size in the range between 30 and 100 nm. Photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra of Tb 3+ substituted for Y 3+ in YAG with 7.0% content has been measured on samples annealed at different (1000, 1100 and 1200 °C) temperatures.