Hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of Y2O3:Eu3+ from waste phosphors

Europium-doped yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ ) phosphors were successful synthesized by hydrothermal method from waste phosphors in the presence of sodium citrate. The synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that the morphology and photoluminescent properties of the obtained samples had a strong dependence on the concentrate of sodium citrate, the addition amount of NaOH and Eu in the hydrothermal process. Well-dispersed Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ hexagonal microdisk with average diameter of 2 μm were synthesized in the presence of 6 mol% Eu, 37.5 mmol NaOH, molar ratios of Cit 3− :Y 3+ = 1:1. The photoluminescence properties measurement reveled that Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ phosphors showed a strong red emission corresponding to 5 D 0 – 7 F 2 (613 nm), suggesting promising application in optoelectronics.