Photoluminescence and raman studies of Y2O3:Eu(3+) nanotubes under high pressure

Size-Dependent High-Pressure Behavior of Pure and Eu3+-Doped Y2O3 Nanoparticles: Insights from Experimental and Theoretical Investigations

We report a joint high-pressure experimental and theoretical study of the structural, vibrational, and photoluminescent properties of pure and Eu3+-doped cubic Y2O3 nanoparticles with two very different average particle sizes. We compare the results of synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and photoluminescence measurements in nanoparticles with ab initio density-functional simulations in bulk material with the aim to understand the influence of the average particle size on the properties of pure and doped Y2O3 nanoparticles under compression. We observe that the high-pressure phase behavior of Y2O3 nanoparticles depends on the average particle size, but in a different way to that previously reported. Nanoparticles with an average particle size of ~37 nm show the same pressure-induced phase transition sequence on upstroke and downstroke as the bulk sample; however, nanoparticles with an average particle size of ~6 nm undergo an irreversible pressure-induced amorphization above 16 GPa that is completed above 24 GPa. On downstroke, 6 nm nanoparticles likely consist of an amorphous phase.

Structural and Lattice-Dynamical Properties of Tb2O3 under Compression: A Comparative Study with Rare Earth and Related Sesquioxides

We report a joint experimental and theoretical investigation of the high pressure structural and vibrational properties of terbium sesquioxide (Tb₂O₃). Powder X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements show that cubic Ia3̅ (C-type) Tb₂O₃ undergoes two phase transitions up to 25 GPa. We observe a first irreversible reconstructive transition to the monoclinic C2/m (B-type) phase at ∼7 GPa and a subsequent reversible displacive transition from the monoclinic to the trigonal P3̅m1 (A-type) phase at ∼1₂ GPa. Thus, Tb₂O₃ is found to follow the well-known C → B → A phase transition sequence found in other cubic rare earth sesquioxides with cations of larger atomic mass than Tb. Our ab initio theoretical calculations predict phase transition pressures and bulk moduli for the three phases in rather good agreement with experimental results. Moreover, Raman-active modes of the three phases have been monitored as a function of pressure, while lattice-dynamics calculations have allowed us to confirm the assignment of the experimental phonon modes in the C- and A-type phases as well as to make a tentative assignment of the symmetry of most vibrational modes in the B-type phase. Finally, we extract the bulk moduli and the Raman-active mode frequencies together with their pressure coefficients for the three phases of Tb₂O₃. These results are thoroughly compared and discussed in relation to those reported for rare earth and other related sesquioxides as well as with new calculations for selected sesquioxides. It is concluded that the evolution of the volume and bulk modulus of all the three phases of these technologically relevant compounds exhibit a nearly linear trend with respect to the third power of the ionic radii of the cations and that the values of the bulk moduli for the three phases depend on the filling of the f orbitals.

Pressure-Induced Phase Transitions in Sesquioxides

Pressure is an important thermodynamic parameter, allowing the increase of matter density by reducing interatomic distances that result in a change of interatomic interactions. In this context, the long range in which pressure can be changed (over six orders of magnitude with respect to room pressure) may induce structural changes at a much larger extent than those found by changing temperature or chemical composition. In this article, we review the pressure-induced phase transitions of most sesquioxides, i.e., A2O3 compounds. Sesquioxides constitute a big subfamily of ABO3 compounds, due to their large diversity of chemical compositions. They are very important for Earth and Materials Sciences, thanks to their presence in our planet’s crust and mantle, and their wide variety of technological applications. Recent discoveries, hot spots, controversial questions, and future directions of research are highlighted.

Sol-gel preparation and luminescent properties of red-emitting phosphor Sr-Ba-Mo-W-O-(Eu(3+),Sm(3+))

Two series of red-emitting phosphors Sr-Ba-Mo-W-O:Eu,Sm and Sr-Ba-Mo-W-O:Eu have been synthesized by a sol-gel method. The effects of the chemical composition, concentrations of Sm(3+) and Eu(3+), the Sr(2+)/Ba(2+) ratio, and the W(6+)/Mo(6+) ratio on the luminescent properties were investigated. The as-prepared phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra. Results showed that single phases of the two series were prepared. The compositions of Sr0.6 Ba0.13Mo0.8 W0.2O4:Eu0.10Sm0.08 and Sr0.75Ba0.1Mo0.8 W0.2O4:Eu0.10 had the strongest luminescent intensity. The excitation spectra of Sm(3+), Eu(3+) co-doped phosphors were broader and the strongest peak moved to 404 nm when compared with that of Eu(3+) single-doped phosphors. The luminescent intensity of the Sr0.6Ba0.13Mo0.8W0.2O4:Eu0.10 Sm0.08 at 618 nm were 2.8 times greater than that of Sr0.75Ba0.1Mo0.8 W0.2O4:Eu0.10. The luminescent intensity of Sr0.6Ba0.13Mo0.8 W0.2 O4:Eu0.10Sm0.08 and Sr0.75Ba0.1Mo0.8W0.2O4:Eu0.10 at 150 °C decreased to 56.8% and 50.3% of the initial value at room temperature, respectively.