White light emission from sonochemically synthesized rare earth doped ceria nanophosphors

Undoped CeO2, and single and triple doped CeO2:M (where M=Dy3+, Tb3+and Eu3+) nanophosphors were synthesized through a simple sonochemical process and characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), EDS and photoluminescence (PL) spectrophotometry. The TEM micrographs show that resultant nanoparticles have flower-like shape. The doped samples showed multicolor emission on single wavelength excitation. Energy transfer was observed from host to the dopant ions. Characteristic blue emission from Dy3+ ions, green from Tb3+ ions and red from Eu3+ ions were observed. The CIE coordinates of the triple doped Ce0.86Dy0.005Tb0.055Eu0.08O2 nanoflowers lie in the white light region of the chromaticity diagram and show promise as good phosphor materials for new lighting devices.