In this works, rare earth ion doped core and core-shell Y₂O₃ phosphors have been extensively studied for many applications due to the high stability and emission range and intensity. The core-shell Y2O3: (RE= Eu, Dy, Tb) nanoparticles are synthesized using a two-step process in which 100-150 nm Y₂O₃ core particles are synthesized using a molten salt synthesis and the shell is deposited using a sol-gel process The core-shell architecture was designed for enhanced luminescence efficiency with long emission lifetimes. Specifically, a multi-shell architecture was necessary to spatially separate Dy³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ within the phosphor to circumvent the energy transfer to the surface quenching sites. First, the crystallinity of Y₂O₃nanophosphors was characterized using X-ray analysis. RE-doped Y₂O₃ core nanoparticles have a good compositional homogeneity. We have also recorded emission spectra and measured fluorescence lifetime. After coating passive shell layer, emission spectra and measured emission lifetimes were compared with those form Y₂O₃ nanophosphor core system and the effectiveness of these core-shell phosphors were successfully assessed.

Date Published: 11 September 2013
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 8808, Active Photonic Materials V, 88081N (11 September 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2023781

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8808:
Active Photonic Materials V
Ganapathi S. Subramania; Stavroula Foteinopoulou, Editor(s)