Nanophosphors with Partially Polymerized SiO<sub>4</sub> Tetrahedra Produced by Evaporation of Ca<sub>2</sub>Y<sub>8</sub> (SiO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>6</sub>O<sub>2</sub>: Eu Polycrystals

Abstract

Nanophosphors in the amorphous state were produced for the first time by pulsed electron beam evaporation of micrometer-sized polycrystalline phosphors of the composition Cа 2 Y 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 : Eu. It was found that the Raman spectrum is modified and the forbidden band width of the samples increases when the particle size lowers from micro-to nanodimensional state. The spectral luminescent characteristics in polycrystalline and amorphous states have been examined. It was established that during the transition to nanoamorphous state the phosphors change their photoluminescence color from red-orange (Eu 3+ ) to blue (Eu 2+ ).