Selective phase synthesis of a high luminescence Gd2O3:Eu nanocrystal phosphor through direct solution combustion

A Gd(2)O(3):Eu nanocrystal phosphor has been directly synthesized by a mild solution combustion method with a single step approach while avoiding further thermal annealing. The as-combusted Gd(2)O(3):Eu powders have been characterized by x-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectra. The ratio of citric acid to metal nitrate (C/M) has a critical impact on the phase composition and crystallization of as-combusted Gd(2)O(3):Eu. An optimal C/M ratio of 0.7 gave highly crystalline powders with a single cubic phase, and a high luminescence intensity comparable with that of a commercial Y(2)O(3):Eu phosphor, even without further thermal annealing. This direct solution combustion method can be used to prepare a variety of high quality oxide nanocrystals.