Lanthanide-doped Y2O3 – the photoluminescent and radioluminescent properties of sol-gel prepared samples

Abstract

Rare earth-metals sesquioxides (including Y2O3) represent a group of materials with extraordinary properties applicable in various technologies. However, one of the special properties – high melting temperature – hinders the wide application of monocrystalline materials. Therefore, it is still important to test other synthesis methods even for relatively well-known materials and even in the form of bulk ceramics. Here, we present the series of lanthanide-doped Y2O3 (Eu3+, Pr3+, Dy3+ and Tb3+ being the dopants) prepared by a Pechini-based method. We demonstrate that this method produces single-phase material with luminescence properties comparable to those of single crystals as proved by the photoluminescence and radioluminescence excited by UV light and X-rays, respectively.