Solution Synthesis, Structural Analysis, and Characterization of Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Phosphors(2/3)

The microemulsion process was
successfully developed for synthesizing
europium-ion doped yttrium aluminum
garnet (YAG: Eu 3+ ) nanoparticles. The
effect of water to oil ratio in the
microemulsion system on structural and
luminescent properties of YAG:Eu 3+
was investigated. The reaction routes of
YAG: Eu 3+ in different W/O systems
remained the same, while the
morphologies of those changed
significantly. The particle size became
reduced and spherical particle presented
at low content of water phase. The emission intensity also enhanced with a
decrease in the content of water phase.
The EXAFS results indicated that the
disordered level around Eu 3+ ions and
the bond distance of Eu-O reduced both
decreased as decreasing W/O ratio.
These resulted in the reduction of
non-radiative probability and the
shortening of the energy transfer route
from host lattice to activators, Eu 3+ .
YAG: Eu 3+ with notable luminescence
and well-dispersed sphere-like
nanoparticles was successfully prepared
via low content of water phase.