Effect of Mg and Ti doping on the luminescence of Y2O3:Eu

The Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺,Mg²⁺,Ti^IV materials (x_Eu: 0.02, x_Mg: 0.08, x_Ti: 0.04) were prepared by solid state reaction. The purity and crystal structure of the material was studied with the X-ray powder diffraction. Luminescence properties were studied in the UV-VUV range with the aid of synchrotron radiation. The emission of Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺,Mg²⁺,Ti^IV had a maximum at 612 nm (λ_exc: 250 nm) due to the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺. The excitation spectra (λ_em: 612 nm) showed a broad band at 233 nm, due to the charge transfer transition between O²⁻ and Eu³⁺, and at 297 nm due to the Ti→Eu³⁺ energy transfer. Only very weak persistent luminescence was discovered. In the room and 10 K temperature excitation spectra, the line at 208 nm is due to the formation of a free exciton (FE) and a broad band at 199 nm was related to the valence-to-conduction band absorption of the Y₂O₃ host lattice. The absorption edge was ca. 205 nm giving 6.1 eV as the energy gap of Y₂O₃.