Eu3+- Doped Ln(3)Al(5)O(12) (Ln = Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) garnets: Synthesis, characterization and investigation of structural and luminescence properties

Abstract

Eu3+-doped erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium aluminium garnets have been synthesized by environmentally friendly aqueous sol-gel method. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the powders sintered at 1000 degrees C showed the high purity of the end products with formation of monophasic compounds. The phase composition of the samples was also investigated by FTIR spectroscopy. The microstructural features of the polycrystalline samples were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The local environments of Eu(3+)activator ions in the garnet crystal structure compounds were investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The luminescence properties were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) study. Effective concentration of Eu3+ ion in these garnets was estimated. The correlation between structural features and luminescence properties was determined.