Synthesis and Characterization of Luminescent Yttrium Oxide Doped with Tm and Yb

Combustion synthesis was used to obtain nanocrystalline Y (2− x − y ) Tm x Yb y O 3 blue‐emitting phosphors. From X‐ray diffraction (XRD) it was determined that the powders in the as‐synthesized state were in a state of high strain. Upon thermal treatment, the strain in the lattice decreased, which resulted in an improvement in the photoluminescence emission intensity of these phosphors. Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometry analysis showed that there is a negligible difference in the absorbed impurities with heat‐treatment temperature and time. Hence, it was concluded that the surface impurities do not play a role in the increase in luminescence intensity of these phosphors. The optimum activator concentrations were determined to be approximately x =0.02 and y =0.01.