The red-emitting nanophosphor Eu:Y2O3 was synthesized
using the the microemulsions method. The microemulsion system was composed
of petroleum ether (60-80 °C), nonionic surfactants
NP5/NP9, aqueous yttrium nitrate/europium nitrate and
ammonium hydroxide solution. The nanoparticles were studied by
thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, transmission electronic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence. The size of the
nanoparticles was in the range 10-100 nm, and showed a
narrow size distribution, high crystallinity and special
luminescent properties. Compared with the phosphors prepared by the
conventional method, the quenching concentration of Eu was
raised remarkably. For this type of nanophosphor, quenching
starts at a Eu concentration of 10% (mol%), while a value
of 6-8% was obtained for the conventional one (Tao Y 1996
Mater. Lett. 28 137-40). Based on this study, we
have successfully prepared some promising nanophosphors.