Synthesis and luminescent properties of Ce3+ doped LuAG nano-sized powders by mixed solvo-thermal method

Polycrystalline LuAG: Ce3+ (cerium3+-doped lutetium aluminum garnet) powders were prepared by mixed solvo-thermal method. Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements showed that the precursors were ethanol derivatives AlO(OH) crystal with hydroxyl and carbonate group. XRD results showed that phase of Lu2O3 disappeared with the precursors were annealed at 400 °C, cubic phase LuAG: Ce3+ appeared but only one diffraction peaks of LuAP (LuAlO3) at calcination temperature to 700 °C, and the purified crystalline phase of LuAG:Ce3+ was obtained at 1000 °C. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that the synthesized LuAG:Ce3+ powders were uniform and had good dispersivity with an average particle size about 100 nm. Excitation and emission spectra of Ce3+ doped LuAG phosphors were measured. Many factors of affecting the intensity of emission spectra were discussed.