Photoluminescence enhancement of europium doped yttrium oxide nanoparticles using mesoporous silica as template

INOR 307

Chang Hyun Ko, chko@kier.re.kr1, Hirn-Ill Song, chko@kier.re.kr2, Jong-Ho Park, jongho@kier.re.kr1, Sang-Sup Han1, Soon-Haeng Cho1, and Jong-Nam Kim, jnkim@kier.re.kr1. (1) Chemical Process Research Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, 71-2 Jang-dong Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-343, South Korea, (2) Separation Process Research Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, 71-2 Jang-dong Yuseong-gu, Daejoen, 305-343, South Korea
Europium doped yttrium oxide (Y2O3:Eu) has attracted much attention because this material is one of the most effective phosphor for red light. Many researchers have tried to improve light conversion efficiency of it by reducing the size of Y2O3:Eu. Spray pyrolysis and colloidal synthesis are reported to be the effective methods for the synthesis of nanosize Y2O3:Eu particles. Very recently, various types of nanoprticles, such as Pt nanowires, carbon molecular sieves, were synthesis with mesoporous silica as templates. In this study, we adopted this method to synthesize Y2O3:Eu nanoparticles. Precursors for yttrium and europium were impregnated on mesoporous silica by incipient wetness method. Then, this sample was calcined at 823 K in oxygen atmosphere. Mesoporous silica template was selectively removed by sodium hydroxide solution. X-ray diffraction study showed that mesoprous silica template limited the growth of Y2O3:Eu particle. The photoluminescence intensity of Y2O3:Eu nanoparticle was much higher than that of bulk Y2O3:Eu particles.