Preparation and Optical Properties of Y2O3:Tb3+ Nanoballs

Y2O3:Tb3+ nanoballs were synthesized via the urea homogeneous precipitation method (UPM). The resulting Y2O3:Tb3+ phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra, and general photoluminescence spectra. The particle sizes estimated using X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microcopy were about 50-200 nm. The emission intensity of the Y2O3:Tb3+ was low when the doping concentra- tions of Tb3+ were higher. The optimum concentration of Tb3+ for synthesis of Y2O3:Tb3+ nanocrystals is 1%.