Photolumiscent Properties of Nanorods 5 and Nanoplates Y 2 O 3 : Eu 3 + 6 Q 1

11 12 Abstract Nanorods and nanoplates of Y2O3:Eu 3+ powders 13 were synthesized through the thermal decomposition of the 14 Y(OH)3 precursors using a microwave-hydrothermal meth15 od in a very short reaction time. These powders were 16 analyzed by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning 17 electron microscopy, Fourrier transform Raman, as well as 18 photoluminescence measurements. Based on these results, 19 these materials presented nanoplates and nanorods mor20 phologies. The broad emission band between 300 and 21 440 nm ascribed to the photoluminescence of Y2O3 matrix 22 shifts as the procedure used in the microwave-hydrothermal 23 assisted method changes in the Y2O3:Eu 3+ samples. The 24 presence of Eu and the hydrothermal treatment time are 25 responsible for the band shifts in Y2O3:Eu 3+ powders, since 26 in the pure Y2O3 matrix this behavior was not observed. 27 Y2O3:Eu 3+ powders also show the characteristic Eu 28 emission lines at 580, 591, 610, 651 and 695 nm, when 29 excited at 393 nm. The most intense band at 610 nm is 30 responsible for the Eu red emission in these materials, 31 and the Eu lifetime for this transition presented a slight 32 increase as the time used in the microwave-hydrothermal 33 assisted method increases.