Synthesis and temperature dependent fluorescence properties of nanoscale europium doped yttria derived in presence of tween-80 and beta-alanine

A novel procedure for the synthesis of uniform europium doped yttria powder was developed. It was prepared by chemically growth-controlled method in the presence of surface modifier. A mixture of Tween-80 (polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitate) and β-alanine, was used as surface modifier. The obtained powder was pure and highly crystalline. The powder was also examined via Fourier transformation infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy to determine the presence of nitrate ions along with the powder at pre and post calcination. Thermal behavior of the powder was investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). High Resolution Transmission Microscopy (HRTEM) reveals that the particle size is around 22 nm. Chemical microanalysis of europium doped yttria was made by energy dispersive spectrum analyzer (EDS) attached along with HRTEM and indicated a Y/Eu atomic ratio 2.1. The fluorescence spectra of calcined powder showed that the Eu3+ ions were in low symmetry bonding sites in the yttria structure