Luminescence of yttrium oxide

Pulsed cathodoluminescence of pure and neodymium-activated Y2O3 ceramic and materials used for its synthesis (commercial Y2O3 micropowder and nanopowder obtained from it by laser evaporation) is investigated in a wavelength range of 350–850 nm. In the micropowder, four series of narrow electron-vibration bands of intrinsic luminescence centers are detected. In a ceramic with the same lattice, only one series is left, while the remaining series degenerate into broad bands. In the neodymium-activated ceramic, luminescence bands of the Na3+ ion located in the monoclinic lattice of the γ-Y2O3 phase are detected.