Synthesis and characterization of photoluminescent cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet

Powder phosphor yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), doped with trivalent cerium (Ce3+) is synthesized by sol–gel method. The formation of YAG and YAG:Ce (cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were also used. The purified crystalline phases of YAG and YAG:Ce were obtained at 1000 °C. The maximum average grain size is about 20–23 nm for undoped samples and 28–34 nm for doped samples. The crystalline YAG:Ce emission shows one peak in the range 480–535 nm with the maximum near 520 nm. Photoluminescence (PL) intensity of 5d → 4f transition of Ce3+ increased with increasing annealing temperature. With increasing the concentration of Ce3+, the photoluminescence peak shifts towards the red region.