Chemistry of Materials · 2004 · 48 citations · 19 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceInorganic ChemistryMaterials ChemistryNanomaterialsCrystal ChemistryCrystalline MaterialsInorganic NanoparticlesLuminescent MaterialsNanomaterial CharacterizationRare-earth-doped MaterialsEmission Spectra AnalysisLanthanide LuminescenceLanthanide OxidesLanthanide-doped MaterialsLattice Parameter MeasurementLuminescent NanomaterialsNanocrystalline MaterialsRare-earth-doped Luminescent Materials
Lu 1.98 Ln 0.02 O 3 (Ln = Nd, Eu, and Er) powders obtained by propellant synthesis were characterized using XRD, SAXS, TEM, and SEM. Samples have a very porous, open morphology with fractal scaling properties. The building blocks of the fractal aggregates are 60−90 nm lanthanide-doped cubic Lu 2 O 3 crystalline particles, which exhibit changes in the lattice parameter proportional to the lanthanide ionic radius. The NIR luminescence spectrum of nanocrystalline Lu 2 O 3:Nd 3+ was measured and emission was observed from the 4 F 3/2 excited state to the 4 I J (9/2, 11/2, 13/2, 15/2) state. The spectral features are very similar to those of a bulk material of identical composition prepared for comparison, though with a noticeable difference in the relative intensity of the 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 9/2 and 4 F 3/2 → 4 I 11/2 transitions. The spectroscopic-quality parameter ( X ) for nanocrystalline samples was calculated and was found to be higher than for the bulk.
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