Photoluminescence properties of Y3Al5O12:Eu nanocrystallites prepared by co-precipitation method using a mixed precipitator of NH4HCO3 and NH3·H2O

Europium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12:Eu, YAG:Eu) nanocrystallites were prepared by calcining the precursors obtained via a co-precipitation method using a mixed solution of NH4HCO3 and NH3·H2O as the precipitator. The results of XRD, FTIR and thermal analysis showed that phase-pure YAG:Eu without any other phases was obtained at 900 °C. TEM results indicated that the particle sizes are 50–100 nm. YAG:Eu nanocrystallites showed four emission bands ascribed to 5D0 → 7F1 transition (592 and 597 nm) and 5D0 → 7F2 transition (611 and 633 nm) of Eu3+, respectively. The intensity of the magnetic dipole transition (5D0 → 7F1) is stronger than that of the electric dipole transition (5D0 → 7F2). The influence of the precipitators with different molar ratios of NH4HCO3 to NH3·H2O on the thermal properties of the as-prepared precursors and luminescent properties of the resulting YAG:Eu nanocrystallites was also investigated.