Synthesis, characterization and optical spectroscopy of a Y2O3–SiO2 nanocomposite doped with Eu3+

Abstract A Y2O3–SiO2 nanocomposite doped with Eu3+ was obtained by the sol–gel technique and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, 29 Si NMR and laser-excited luminescence spectroscopy. It was found that small (2–3 nm) Y2O3 nanoparticles, whose size does not appear to change for heat treatments in the range 500–900 °C, interact at the interface with the SiO2 matrix. Luminescence spectroscopy seems to indicate that the Eu3+ ion is preferentially located inside the highly disordered Y2O3 nanoparticles. These luminescent nanocomposites form a class of materials which could find applications in the field of phosphors.