Synthesis and Optical Properties of Gd2O3:Er³+,Yb³+ Microcrystal Using Different Solvent

Gd₂O₃:Er³⁺,Yb³⁺ microcrystals were prepared by the co-precipitation method using water or ethanol/water as solvents. The effects of solvents on particle size, morphology, and photoluminescence intensity were investigated. The microcrystal were systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photoluminescent spectra (PL). The results showed that the co-precipitation synthesis using ethanol/water solvent could produce microparticles with better homogeneity, better dispersion and stronger photoluminescence intensity. The XRD spectra showed that both ethanol/water and water solvent produced cubic phase. The powders prepared using water as solvent exhibited the green emission while the powders obtained using water/ethanol as solvent exhibited the red emission. Moreover, it was found that the intensity of powders calcined at 900°C using water/ethanol as solvent was much stronger than that of the powders calcined at 1000°C using water as solvent.