Structural and optical characterizations of YAG:Eu3+ elaborated by the sol–gel process

Sol-gel route has been successfully used to obtain pure Y 3 Al 5 O 12 and Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Eu 3+ powders. The formation process, the structure as well as the microstructure of the materials were analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TG-TDA), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It has been shown that sol-gel derived YAG powders crystallize around 900 °C whereas a temperature much higher is necessary to obtain this compound by solid state synthesis (1500 °C). Laser induced luminescence spectra, as well as luminescence decays of Eu 3+ ions show undoubtedly the spectral features of a Eu 3+ emitting center embedded in a unique site of D 2 symmetry.