Hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of Y2O3:Eu3+ from waste phosphors

Abstract

Europium-doped yttrium oxide (Y2O3:Eu3+) phosphors were successful synthesized by hydrothermal method from waste phosphors in the presence of sodium citrate. The synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that the morphology and photoluminescent properties of the obtained samples had a strong dependence on the concentrate of sodium citrate, the addition amount of NaOH and Eu in the hydrothermal process. Well-dispersed Y2O3:Eu3+ hexagonal microdisk with average diameter of 2 μm were synthesized in the presence of 6 mol% Eu, 37.5 mmol NaOH, molar ratios of Cit3−:Y3+ = 1:1. The photoluminescence properties measurement reveled that Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphors showed a strong red emission corresponding to 5D0–7F2 (613 nm), suggesting promising application in optoelectronics. Keywords: Hydrothermal synthesis, Y2O3:Eu3+, Morphology, Photoluminescence, Waste phosphors