An analysis of Y2O3:Eu3+ thin films for thermographic phosphor applications

A comparative study of the luminescent properties of Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor powders and thin films sputtered from targets prepared from combustion synthesized powders is reported. Thin films of (Y0.96Eu0.04)2O3 were deposited on silicon substrates. Films deposited at 600 °C had both monoclinic and cubic phases of Y2O3, which developed to an oriented cubic phase after annealing. Films and powders showed a linear dependence of the intensity of the 5D7→7F2 (611 nm) transition with temperature in the range 26–660 °C with an average rate of change of 1.8×10−4 °C−1. The rate of change appears to be dependent on the Eu3+ concentration. This work shows that these thin films can be used as thermographic phosphors for remote temperature measurements.