title: Synthesis and properties of europium-based phosphors on the nanometer scale: Eu2O3, Gd2O3:Eu, and Y2O3:Eu.
abstract: Nanocrystals of oxides containing europium as the main constituent or as a doping element in RE2O3 ( RE=Y, Gd) have been prepared by direct oxide precipitation in high-boiling polyalcohol solutions and characterized by high-resolution TEM, absorption spectroscopy, and luminescence spectroscopy. The samples obtained consisted of concentrated and colloidally stable suspensions of luminescent oxide nanoparticles with an average grain diameter in the range 2-5 nm. The nanoparticles were found to be highly crystalline despite their ultrasmall size and the low temperature of 180 degrees C applied during the synthesis. Upon UV excitation, the red luminescence relative to the 5D0-->7Fn transition within the cubic form of RE2O3 exhibits some important differences from that usually found in bulk materials.
authors.affiliation: LPCML, Université Lyon 1, 43 Bd. du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bazzi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lebbou
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dujardin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ledoux
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perriat
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tillement