Solvothermal synthesis and characterization of Eu ³⁺doped Y ₂O ₃nanocrystals

A solvothermal refluxing system containing of ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol-hexane mixed organic solvents were used to prepare Eu ³⁺ doped Y ₂O ₃ nanocrystals via solvothermal refluxing reaction-calcinations method. In the presence of ethylene glycol, the reaction temperature required for the preparation of Y(OH) ₃ precursor crystal is 170 °C but in ethylene glycol-hexane mixed organic solvents, the synthesis temperature was reduced to 70 °C. The Y(OH) ₃ precursor particles were calcinated at 600-1200 °C in air to prepare nanosized Eu ³⁺ doped Y ₂O ₃ red phosphor. The as prepared particles by refluxing in ethylene glycol followed by calcination showed 20-60 nm in diameter. For the characterization, XRD, TG-DTA, EDS, FTIR, TEM and PL measurements were employed. The as prepared sample by refluxing in ethylene glycol-hexane mixed solvents exhibited strong red emission around 610 nm under 254 nm xenon light excitation and photoluminescence property was compared with reference sample (5 mol% Eu ³⁺:Y ₂O ₃) prepared via conventional co-precipitation method followed by calcinations at 800 °C for 5 h in air.