Synthesis of Y3Al5O12:Eu3+ phosphor by sol-gel method and its luminescence behavior

The Eu3+-doped Y3Al5O12, phosphor ultrafine powders were synthesized by the sol-gel method using metal alkoxide at the lower temperature of 1000 ??C. The formation process and structure of the phosphor powders were investigated by means of TG-DTA, XRD and SEM. It has been found that the phosphor powders were amorphous up to 700 ??C and changed into the single phase YAG at about 1000 ??C that is, 600 ??C lower than that required for the constituent oxide mixtures. The resulting ultrafine, phase-pure, cubic yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) phosphor powders were obtained. In the course of the phosphor transformation from non-crystalline state to crystalline state, both the emission intensity and the site symmetry of Eu3+ in the phosphors varied noticeably. The Eu3+ emission intensity of 5D0&rarr7F1 and 5D0&rarr7F2 versus Eu3+ concentration and sintering temperature was studied.EI72-75275-27