Combustion synthesis and enhanced 1.5 μm emission in Y2O3:Er3+ powders codoped with La3+ ions

Abstract Er 3+ and La 3+ codoped Y 2 O 3 nanocrystalline powders were synthesized by gel combustion method and characterized with thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) techniques and fluorescence spectroscopy. After being calcined at 1200 °C, the (Y 1- x La x ) 2 O 3 :Er 3+ powders were confirmed to be cubic Y 2 O 3 phase with the crystalline grain size in the range of 20-40 nm. The Er 3+ emission at 1.53 μm from the 4 I 13/2 → 4 I 15/2 transition was observed, which was found to be enhanced by introducing La 3+ ions. Such enhancement could be attributed to the adjustment of Er 3+ ions' local environment by the codoping of La 3+ ions, leading to the increased ground state absorption cross section of Er 3+ ions.