Synthesis and Luminescent Properties of Lu2O2SO4 : Eu3+ Spherical Particles

Potential use of Lu2O2SO4:xEu(3+) as a contrast agent in multifunctional medical imaging was studied. Powders of Lu2O2SO4 : xEu(3+) (x = 1-7 mol %) solid solutions consisting of spherical particles with a diameter of approximately 300 nm were synthesized by co-precipitation followed by calcination. The duration of synthesis influences the particle morsphology: increase in the coprecipitation duration leads to coarse particles that lost their spherical shape due to formation of conglomerates. Excitation of Lu2O2SO4 : Eu3+ at a wavelength of 270 nm leads to the appearance of distinct peaks in the 610-620 and 690-710 nm regions, with intensity depending on the concentration of Eu3+ ions in a sample.