Facile preparation and fluorescence enhancement of mesoporous Eu-doped-Y₂O₃ phosphors

Mesoporous europium-doped yttrium oxide phosphors were successfully synthesized by a simple Pechini sol–gel method. The prepared powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Surface area and pore size analyzer and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The XRD spectrum of the calcined samples confirm the presence of Y₂O₃. The surface area and pore size analyzer was employed to demonstrate the existence of mesoporous structure in these samples. The room temperature photoluminescence (PL) emissions of Y₂O₃:Eu samples can be observed under 245 nm excitation. PL results show that the emission intensity of as-prepared mesoporous Y₂O₃:Eu phosphors are higher than that of particles without special structures. Large surface area and pores play an important role in the increasing of PL intensity. The intensity ratio between ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ and ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁ transitions which related to the local environment of Eu³⁺ were also studied.