Effect of ultrasound treatment on the morpho-structural and luminescent characteristics of cerium doped yttrium silicate phosphors

Abstract

Cerium activated yttrium silicate (Y2SiO5:Ce) phosphors were prepared by gel-combustion, using yttrium–cerium nitrate as oxidizer, aspartic acid as fuel and TEOS as source of silicon. Two modalities for samples preparation were approached namely: the classical gel-combustion and sonication gel combustion. The ultrasound treatment during the gelling stage has a positive effect on the structural and luminescent characteristics of the final product. Therefore, a well crystallized single X2–Y2SiO5 phase phosphor was obtained at 1200 C. Based on FT-IR and XRD investigations, conversion of X1 to X2–Y2SiO5 phases is observed as the firing temperature is varied (1100 oC, 1200 oC, 1300 oC 1400 oC). The ultrasound treatment leads to smaller particle size and enhances the luminescent performances up to 151% in comparison with samples prepared by classical way.