White luminescence of bismuth and samarium codoped Y2O3 phosphors

In this work Sm3+ (0-2.0 at%) and Bi3+ (0-2.0 at%) doped Y2O3 luminescent powders were prepared by a sol gel method from yttrium acetylacetonate, samarium and bismuth nitrates as metal sources. The as prepared powders (chemical composition is close to stoichiometric Y2O3) present the cubic structure from 700 degrees C, and at 900 degrees C are characterized by the presence of rounded particles with heterogeneous size of 42.9 nm. Luminescent effect of ions of Sm3+ and Bi3+ into Y2O3 host as was studied on heat treated powders from 800 to 1100 degrees C. The combination of the red luminescence from the Sm3+ ions and the bluish from Bi3+, makes the synthesized phosphors candidates to be used in fabrication of phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (LEDs). (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.