Eu3+-doped Y2O3-SiO2 nanocomposite obtained by a Sol-Gel Method

A Y 2 O 3 -SiO 2 nanocomposite doped with Eu 3+ was obtained by a sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR, 29 Si NMR and laser-excited luminescence spectroscopy. It was found that small (2-3 nm) yttria nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed in, and interacting with, the amorphous silica matrix. Luminescence spectroscopy indicates that the Eu 3+ ion is preferentially located inside or at the surface of highly disordered Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles. These luminescent nanocomposites form a class of materials which could find applications in the field of phosphors.