Abstract:Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ phosphors were synthesized by the surface diffusion method (SDM). X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) were used to characterize the structure, morphology and component of Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ phosphors. The photoluminescent (PL) properties were also investigated. The results reveal that the PL intensity of Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ phosphors prepared by the surface diffusion method (SDM) is much higher than that prepared by homogeneous co-precipitation. The luminescence efficiency of the sample (Y_0.997, Eu_0.003)₂O₃ prepared by the SDM is almost 1.9 times that by homogeneous co-precipitation. The concentration of Eu³⁺ in the phosphor Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ prepared by the surface diffusion can be reduced greatly owing to the activator, Eu³⁺ ions, distributing mainly in the outer layer of the phosphors where the photon generation process occurs.

Key words: phosphor; rare earth; surface diffusion method; photoluminescence properties