Yttrium silicate and oxonitridosilicate luminescent materials from a silicone resin and nano-sized fillers

Abstract Yttrium silicate and oxonitridosilicate ceramic powders have been successfully prepared by heat treatment, at 1300–1400 °C, of a silicone resin embedding Y 2 O 3 nano-sized particles as reactive fillers. Nano-sized RE-oxides (Eu 2 O 3 , CeO 2 ), used as secondary additives, promoted the development of apatite phase, in both air and N 2 atmosphere. For treatments in nitrogen, the only crystal phase consisted of yttrium nitrogen apatite, mixed with amorphous silicon oxycarbide (SiOC). Eu-doped and Ce-doped yttrium silicates were characterized by means of UV–visible luminescence and ion beam induced luminescence (IBIL). Strong luminescence features were observed, depending on the conditions of thermal treatment.