Synthesis and luminescent properties of forsterite nanoparticles doped with Eu3+ forsterite and Tb3+ by combustion and hydrothermal3 methods

This study investigates the synthesis of single-phase forsterite nano crystalline by microwaves combustion and hydrothermal methods. Mixtures of citric acid and glycine were used as fuel and nitrate ions were used as oxidizers at the combustion method. The synthesized sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Forsterite nano crystalline was fabricated with the grain size of about 200 nm by combustion method. The synthesized forsterite nanopowder by hydrothermal method had particle size smaller than combustion method (about 30-50 nm). The luminescent colors of Mg2SiO4:Eu3+ and Mg2SiO4:Tb3+ phosphors are red and green respectively. The luminescent intensity of particles obtained by hydrothermal method is relatively higher than the combustion method. Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions emissions as a structural probe suggest that the rare earth ions replace the Mg2+ ions in the site of M2 (Cs) in the forsterite lattice.